Ingredients
3 large red capsicums
½ kg penne rigate pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1½ cups vegetable broth
½ cup raw cashews, soaked in water for 2-4 hours
1½ teaspoons Himalayan salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh
1½ teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon parsley
¼ teaspoon red pepper, crushed
1 tablespoon tomato paste
fresh cracked pepper, to taste
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
Method
The roasted capsicums
Broil the whole capsicums on a baking tray 2 inches apart. Broil until the skin starts to blister and blacken. Using tongs, rotate the capsicums a quarter turn until all sides are charred, about 5 minutes each side. The capsicums should be slightly collapsed and soft. The whole process takes 15-20 minutes.
Remove from the oven and place the capsicums on a cutting board. Cover with a large bowl or pot to steam them, about 10-15 minutes.
When the capsicums are cool enough to handle, slice them vertically and spread them open to make a long strip. Remove the stem and seeds. Flip the capsicum over and remove charred skin. It should peel off easily. Set aside.
The pasta and sauce
Place the pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water. Cook until al dente (usually 10-12 minutes). Drain and set aside.
Heat up oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Lightly sprinkle with a pinch of salt. When melted, add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic, crushed red pepper, oregano, and parsley and sauté for 2- 3 minutes until lightly brown. Stir often to prevent burning. Now stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Drain and rinse the cashews and the discard water. In a blender, place the sauteéd onions & garlic, broth, soy milk, roasted capsicums, cashews, lemon juice, nutritional yeast and salt. Blend until the cashews and capsicums have completely broken down and the sauce is smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
Pour the sauce back into the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes on medium heat, until it slightly thickens up. Stir often to prevent burning (turn heat lower if necessary). Taste for seasoning, and add more if needed.
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan. Toss with fresh basil and serve immediately. Top with fresh-cracked pepper.
Author
Vasundhara Kandpal
Green Karma
Eltham