Trip to Italy

Well...maybe not. But this dish has so many robust flavors that you may feel like you are Italy.

We love pasta and some nights call for this dish. It is simple and you can really make it your own by adding or substituting ingredients. Totally up to you - this is a great basic dish to build from if you prefer.

I will say...the sauce is a must - and I have never had a better tasting scampi flavor profile than from Halladay's Harvest Barn out of Vermont. Family owned and run, they really have amazing herbs and mixes - it is a MUST. I generally order 8 scampi packages at a time. It is also a good way to marinade tofu too!

So let's get into it!

Ingredients

Simple, delicious, pasta...

Halladay's Harvest Barn Scampi Mix

Miyoko's butter

A good extra virgin olive oil

1 pound pasta (I prefer fusilli or shells, but you can choose any type of pasta!)

1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

10 sun dried tomatoes from a jar in oil, chopped

2 roasted red pepper from a jar, chopped

1/4 cup capers

4-5 cups raw baby spinach

Method

Sauce

• To a small sauce pan add 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1/2 cup butter, and 3 tablespoons of scampi mix (hydrated with water)

• Bring all ingredients to a simmer, keep on low and stir occasionally

First boil water for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta, and then work on the bean mix!

Pasta

• Cook pasta as directed on package

• Once pasta is done, drain and transfer back to pasta pot

Bean mixture

• Drain and rinse beans

• To a pan add oil, once heated, add beans and a pinch of salt. Allow to cook for 5 minutes to crisp the bean

• Next add chopped sun dried tomatoes, roasted red pepper, and capers. Allow to cook through, stirring occasionally. Now add raw spinach. Continue to stir. Once spinach is wilted, turn off the heat. (Note: the beans will fall apart and become soft - that is ok!)

Bring it all together

To the pasta pot with the drained pasta, add the cooked bean mixture. Toss to combine. Now add the delicious scampi sauce to the pasta pot and gently stir to combine. Once combined, it is time to plate and enjoy! Top with some vegan Parmesan and serve with a slice of warmed Italian bread!

Going to Tuscany?