Grilled Veggies with Pasta Sauce

Plan Z Phase: This is a Z3.5 (ZReboot 3.5) recipe. For this recipe let’s get out the grill. This pasta sauce tastes so fresh. It’s really worth the effort to grill the veggies.

Servings:

Serves 2. Can be doubled.

Ingredients:

The Veggies:

  • olive oil spray
  • sea salt
  • 1 small eggplant cut into chunks (If you use Japanese eggplant the skin definitely does not need to be removed and you won’t have to worry about seeds. If you use a regular eggplant peeling the skin is optional. I don’t do it but I do remove the center to get rid of the seeds.)
  • 1 large onion cut into 6 wedges
  • 1 yellow bell pepper cut into strips
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into strips
  • 1 zucchini cut into wedges (think large French fries)
  • handful of mushrooms (optional)

Sauce

  • 1 Tbl olive oil
  • 6 plum tomatoes diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp shallots diced
  • 2 tsp Italian spices
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • pinch cayenne

Pasta

  • 1 cup of pasta (cooled) – about the size of your hand.
You can have these options:
  • You can skip the pasta and just have the veggies and sauce (Best Choice)
  • You can serve it over any kind of pasta noodles that you like but just keep the portion of pasta to 1/2 cup
  • You can serve the grilled sauce along side a piece of meat

Instructions:

Grilling the veggies:

Spray the veggies with olive oil spray. Lightly sprinkle with grated sea salt (kosher salt will work, too).

Heat the grill to medium and begin grilling the veggies. You can put them directly on the grill or in a grill pan. You want to fully cook the veggies; even a tidbit blackened on the edges. This gives them a full, rustic flavor. As each veggie gets done just put it on your platter. When they are all grilled, put the platter (oven proof) in the oven set on warm to hold them until you are ready to serve.

On the Stove

Put all of the sauce ingredients in a saute pan. Heat on medium until bubbling and then keep on low for up to 15 minutes to thicken the sauce to your liking.

While your sauce is bubbling, heat water in a large pot until boiling. Use enough water to cover the pasta you have chosen. Then follow the directions on the package to cook your pasta.

Put your pasta in the bottom of a pasta bowl or on a plate. Place sauce on the pasta and top with the veggies.

Enjoy!

Cheers,