Monday, April 19, 2010

Friday: Choose Your Spicyness Tomato Sauce with Gnocchi and Spinach-Orange Salad

 
I don't know about you, but I LOOOVE having options, and that is exactly what you have with this meal. You can choose the mild, medium or spicy version of this Ellie Krieger inspired recipe. What else do I love about this recipe? The sauce is super fast and easy to whip up. You just mix it together in a food processor! Feel free to swap the gnocchi with whole wheat spaghetti or linguine. Don't know what gnocchi is? Read more about it below. Check out what else you can use this sauce for under "Change It Up." Bon Appetit!

 Mild Sauce Recipe

  3/4 cup slivered almonds
1 28 oz can plus 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes

  3/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves

1 TB plus 1 tsp red-wine vinegar
  3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
1/2 tsp salt


Medium Sauce Recipe

3/4 cup slivered almonds
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes plus 1 14 oz can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes
(check out note below)
  3/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves

1 TB plus 1 tsp red-wine vinegar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper or to taste(see Change It Up for options)
  3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
1/2 tsp salt

Spicy Sauce Recipe

3/4 cup slivered almonds
1 28 oz can plus 1 14 oz can of Fire Roasted diced tomatoes

  3/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves

1 TB plus 1 tsp red-wine vinegar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper or to taste(see Change It Up for options)
  3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
1/2 tsp salt


1. Toast almonds in a large dry skillet over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until golden.
2. Transfer almonds to a food processor and process until finely ground. Add rest of ingredients except olive oil, cheese, and salt. While processor is running, drizzle in oil in a steady stream, about 30 seconds. Stir in Parmesan Cheese. Heat over medium heat until hot to serve over pasta or gnocchi. Top with more Parmesan cheese.

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Plan and Prep Ahead

Here are some helpful techniques to make life a little easier once dinner time hits. These tips will especially help those that work full-time and don't have a lot of time to prepare dinner.

~Toast almonds ahead of time and store in airtight container until time of use.

That's it! 

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Who likes to CHANGE IT UP?

~Swap out the crushed red pepper for smoked paprika or chili powder.
~Try your favorite nut type instead of almonds. 
~Swap gnochhi for a whole wheat spaghetti or linguini. 
~Serve the tomato sauce over chicken or pork with a side dish of rice.

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Can't find Fire Roasted Tomatoes?

 You can either swap them out with Diced Tomatoes with Chili's or you can get a couple cans on amazon below.


Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes, Fire Roasted, 14.5-Ounce Cans


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