Roasted Red Pepper Penne.
As a self-proclaimed tomato sauce hater, I’ve just about had enough. Enough tomatoes, enough sauce, enough chili… enough enough enough. I have two giant tubs of chili frozen in my freezer, and at this rate I’m hoping they will stay edible for two full years. They truly are giant and I sort of just want to chuck them in the trash. I seriously cannot imagine putting one more bowl of chili beneath my chin, no matter how good it tastes. Lord help me.
But at any rate, I did manage to make this pasta dish last week for dinner that I’ve been dying to share with you, red or not. It’s simple and in my mind – perfect for a Monday when you really just wish it was Friday.
You won’t find me eating raw peppers anytime soon, but I do really love them roasted on top of things like pizza and pasta. So I ended up roasting my own, which is totally doable. If I can do it, you certainly can too. Trust me. I am not a chef by any means… I just play one on this blog.
We have especially been loving roasted reds lately. It all started when my husband decided he was in a sandwich phase – but not just any sandwich phase – triple the meat (think turkey + ham + roast beef), three different kinds of jarred peppers, spicy mustard and two kinds of cheese. Similar to his diet Mountain Dew, cheddar and peanut butter cracker, and chocolate-chip-cookie-over-the-sink phases. He was going through an entire jar of roasted red peppers per sandwich, being that most jars are complete rip offs and only contain one whole pepper twirled together in a manipulative way to make you believe it’s really two or three. One pepper! Ha. What a joke.
And I got in on this too when I started slicing squares of fontina and topping them with the peppers then laying both on buttered toast. I’ve been all over that and was buying 4-5 jars of roasted peppers at time which was nearing the brink of ridiculousness.
All you need to do is throw the peppers under your broiler, char them ’til black, then stuff them in a ziplock bag and let them do their thing. It’s really not a big deal, and yes… I’ve tried that whole roasting-on-my-gas-burner thing and it just skeeves me out. I’m not too skilled when it comes to things in the kitchen like chopping with a scary knife and remembering to turn off the oven, so I didn’t find standing over an open flame very desirable. Um, plus… have you seen my hair? Someone likes hairspray.
I love this dish for multiple reasons, one of them being that it is not tomato based (duh) and the second being that the sauce leaves just a light coating on the pasta. I do not like my pasta swimming in sauce, unless we’re talking alfredo… the language of love. Give me cheese or give me death. My suggestion would be if you do like tons upon tons of sauce, double the sauce recipe to the same amount of pasta. That’s a lot of garlic and delicious spice. Maybe just don’t make out with anyone right after eating it? Or do. Whatever. Maybe you like that sort of thing.
Roasted Red Pepper Penne
serves 4
2 large red peppers
3 cloves of garlic
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
4-5 basil leaves, torn
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
4-5 tablespoons olive oil (I used a garlic-infused from Fustinis)
2 cups of dry whole wheat penne
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
2 thin sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt & pepper for seasoning chicken
To roast peppers: remove core and seeds from peppers and slice into pieces. Lay on a baking sheet and preheat the broiler in your oven. Place under the broiler skin-side up until skins are completely charred and black – this took about 10 minutes for me but will depend on your oven. Just check every 2 minutes or so. Immediately remove peppers from oven and using kitchen tongs, quickly place them in a ziplock bag then seal it. Set aside for 20-30 minutes.
While peppers are “steaming” in the bag, pat the chicken breasts completely dry with a pepper towel, then season them with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Brown chicken on both sides until cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. {I made the chicken the same as this recipe.} Set chicken aside to cool, then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet with onions and a sprinkle of salt. Saute over medium-low heat until onions soften and caramelized. Cut chicken into pieces.
Boil water and prepare pasta according to directions. Remove peppers from the bag and peel the skin off to discard. It’s okay if a little bit of char remains as it adds to the flavor. Add peppers, garlic, parmesan cheese, basil, salt and pepper to a food processor. Blend until pureed, then stream in 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil so mixture comes together.
In a large bowl, combine penne with chicken and onions. Add red pepper sauce and toss thoroughly to coat as it is very thick. Serve with additional parmesan cheese and a few basil leaves.
I need a cookie after all of this.
157 Comments on “Roasted Red Pepper Penne.”
aagghh, i can’t moooovveeee.
this was so good. so-o-o-o good.
like.
“i’m-so-full-but-i-can’t-stop-eating-this-glorious-goodness-oh-help-me” good.
daddy’s review: “pretty good.”
but in my book, that’s my review x4892849283
he criticized my pasta making skills though. apparently al dente doesn’t really exist in his book. just like anything under a well done steak doesn’t exist.
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Made it. I think I made too much pasta, therefore lost a bit of the flavor of the sauce in each bite. Next time less pasta or more sauce.
That being said, the boy ate 2 bowls and declared it the first time I didn’t overcook the chicken. Success!
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Wonderful! I never thought to do this. I wish I didn’t use up that red pepper I used the other day with my fresh asparagus. sighhhhh. U have great recipes!
Doubled the recipe but realized i was low on olive oil so I had a jar of sun dried tomatoes in oil and added the oil from that. Also added a few of the tomatoes. Was delish… added a bit more depth. Could also add some Kalamata or dark olives… Really good!
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i have been coming back to this recipe for days, trying to find a day i can fit making it into my schedule. could not be more excited to make it!!
“not just any sandwich phase – triple the meat (think turkey + ham + roast beef), three different kinds of jarred peppers, spicy mustard and two kinds of cheese.”
You literally just described the only thing my boyfriend knows how to make.
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Looks great. But would better with homemade pasta. Check out my blog for my pasta recipe!
so great!! click http://www.ccchinachic.com u can find u need!! so much coupons on it! so much free gifts on it!!
Hello!(:
I just made this and it was such a hit with my father and brother! Instead of chicken I grilled up some sausage and it was awesome! I’ve been making my family dinner using your delicious recipes, and they always go up for seconds! What a way to feed two men while my mother is away for a year in Libya!
they are going to gain a lot of weight, because I’m about to try out ALL your deserts!
yummy! Just made this for the family and they are liking their bowls clean! :D
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I made this for dinner last night and it was great! I skipped the olive oil because I forgot it and it still worked out great. I also used dried basil. Great and easy recipe!
Just made this. tasted like straight raw garlic. Did I do something wrong?
Out of curiosity, how much garlic did you use? I’ve seen situations where a clove of garlic has been confused with a head of garlic (and that would DEFINITELY have an impact on the flavor).
Just made this. Was amazing! Thanks.
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I absolutely, LOVE, your blog! Thank you for taking the time, to share all of your wonderful recipes =) I know how tough it can be to get it all done, editing and all!
Hey:) It was really nice :q :) and my brother didn’t realised that i used whole wheat penne :D
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