Quick and delicious, this perfect pasta dish prepares quickly is made with only five ingredients!
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Regardless of the season, pasta is a great choice for a quick and delicious meal that is sure to please!
This Mediterranean Medley 5-Ingredient Pasta recipe has been prepared with a plant-based/vegan approach, but any protein of choice could easily be added to accommodate a variety of tastes!
I used two different types of pastas- a red lentil penne and a veggie semolina wheat pasta which made for a very colorful and festive final result!
The red lentil penne packed a good punch regarding protein, fiber and iron which I was looking for being that I wasn't planning on adding any additional protein sources.
Heart healthy olives and olive oil added plenty of flavor along with sun-dried tomatoes. Without question, pesto is my favorite addition to pasta dishes when I want to go with a no-sauce option.
In this case, I had made a kale pesto a few days prior and it was the perfect accompaniment to this delightful plant-based pasta recipe! (My kale pesto recipe will be coming soon!)
Looking for a simple, oil-free pesto recipe, this pesto recipe is the best!
Want to get your kids excited to help out with preparing dinner or setting the table? Strega Nona by Tommy dePaola is the perfect book to go along with pasta night!
Most of our favorite recipes have been happy accidents! We have either been out of ingredients, in a rush and looking for something speedy to whip up or been inspired by another recipe!
We have an ongoing goal of making healthy choices and saving money and this Mediterranean Medley 5 Ingredient Pasta recipe checks all the boxes!
With minimal preparation and a few ingredients, this pasta meal makes a great main dish that can be enhanced with a side salad, additional protein and light dessert if you're feeling fancy!
Fortunately, it's a quick shopping list to put together this delicious pasta dinner that can easily feed a family of four.
If you're cooking for less, leftovers are perfect hot or cold and can serve as a great side dish for a cup of soup or salad!
Note: I used two different types of pasta - one 12 oz. box of semolina veggie mixed shapes pasta and one 8 oz. box of red lentil penne.
Feel free to mix it up with whatever kind of pasta is your fave!
Mediterranean Medley Pasta Recipe
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 25 Minutes
Servings: 6 Main Dish Servings
Ingredients:
1 box red lentil penne pasta (8 oz.)
1 box veggie pasta (12 oz.)
1 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
1/4- 1/3 cup pesto
1 can black olives, halved
3-4 large cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil + more if needed
salt, pepper to taste
Directions:
1. If using bulk/dry sun dried tomatoes, reconstitute using boiling water, let soak while prepping other ingredients.
2. Bring water to boil in whatever pasta pot you like to use! Optional: add a little salt prior to boiling.
3. When water comes to a rolling boil, cook pasta according to package directions -If using two different pastas, be sure to check each pasta for length of time and adjust for any differences!
While the pasta is cooking...
4. Chop the garlic.
5. Drain and halve the olives.
6. Cut the sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces - I use these which is absolutely the easiest method!
7. When pasta is done, drain and return it to the pot.
8. Add pesto, garlic, olive oil, olives and sun-dried tomatoes and stir to combine.
Taste before adding any salt- the pesto, tomatoes and olives all contain salt and may be enough to flavor it! If desired, add salt and/or pepper to taste!
A note about red lentil pasta: if you're anticipating leftovers, let it cook the extra minute or two. It tends to be a little more firm than the traditional wheat pastas and this will become more evident when enjoying your leftovers!
Looking for a sweet treat to follow up dinner? Chocolate Chip Cookies are always a hit!
Be sure to Pin this post so you can return to it in the future!
Know someone who loves plant-based or vegan meals or just needs a quick weeknight dinner? We'd love it you would share!
Buon Appetito!
