PASTAS & SAUCES
Red Pepper Sauce Pasta
low carb vegan recipe
1 package of shirataki (white noodles), 200g
2 tbsp garlic flavored extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic, with the water squeezed out
1 cup ajvar (red pepper spread, read the labels for the lowest carb content brand)
1 can (14 oz) unsweetened diced tomatoes, not strained.
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste
Crushed red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
Fresh parsley (for garnish)
The sauce makes 4 servings.
Variation: Shirataki also comes in a brown color, in case you get bored of seeing white noodles all the time. The brown kind also releases less water when microwaved.
Don’t forget to wear swimming goggles when chopping the onion, so your eyes don’t burn. Ski goggles also work, if you don’t have the swimming kind.
In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium low heat. Add the onion first so it starts to soften, then add the garlic. Sauté until the onion is translucent and the garlic makes the area around the stove smell like garlic.
Stir in the ajvar (red pepper spread) and mix well with the onion and garlic, then add the diced tomatoes and stir again.
Add the oregano, basil, salt and pepper to taste. For extra heat, add the crushed red pepper to taste but also consider the taste of others you might feed this to, with respect to their Scoville scale tolerance.
A little bit goes a long way, and a ‘strong hint’ of crushed chilis is all that’s needed. You can complexify that strong hint by using a chili-flavored olive oil instead, which will make people go, “Huh, what’s that chili combo?”
Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and simmer for another ~10–15 minutes for flavor marrying and sauce thickening. Add water if needed to thin the sauce to a desired consistency.
While simmering, microwave (or otherwise heat) the shirataki noodles at high covered for 90 seconds.
Pour the sauce on a bowl of shirataki noodles (or zucchini noodle alternative, described below) and top with the fresh parsley. With the red pepper and parsley flavors, you totally do not need to sprinkle vegan grated parmesan cheese onto it.
