Posted by Dinners are meant to be Easy. Simple. Delicious. Family Time. This pasta recipe was a accidental invention. Yes invention discovery is what I call it. Quick, easy and less pots to clean.What you need though is a pressure cooker. Never have I thought pasta cooked in a cooker could turn this GOOD! However I should mention I read a post by a senior at school about a pasta recipe she had in one of her get togethers a few years back and how it got the kids finger licking and plate slurping. I wanted to try it and adopted cooking it using the pressure cooker. To talk more of it, the pasta was cooked to perfection and taken in the flavors so well that for the first time I felt I was truly enjoying it.
Seriously, I cant Urge you enough to try this. Trust me its a winner. Now, to the recipe
Must Haves : Pressure Cooker , Pasta Sauce , Cream.
Source : Sharon
Serves : 2-3
What you’ll need:
1 Cup measures : 160 ml
Olive Oil : 1 tbsp
Butter : 1 tsp
Garlic : 2 medium finely minced/chopped
Chicken (thigh or breast) : 200 gm diced to 1 cm in size
Cajun Seasoning : 1/2 tsp (optional) refer to notes below
Mushroom : 150 gm (Sliced)
Parsley : A handful chopped
Pepper : 1/2 tsp
Pasta : Trivelle Uncooked Approx 275 gm (Measured 4 cups heaped)
Thickened Cream : 100 ml approx
Pasta sauce from a bottle : 1/2 bottle or 1 1/2 cup
Chicken Stock : 1 Cup (Optional)
In a stove top pressure cooker, heat up the olive oil add a tsp butter and add the minced/chopped garlic, Saute till the garlic is a bit cooked and not burnt.
Now, add the chicken continue sauteing till the chicken is slightly cooked and now add the Cajun seasoning. Add Salt to taste
Add the sliced mushrooms and continue sauteing till a bit done
Now add in the uncooked pasta, 4 Cups boiling water, 1 1/2 Cup Pasta Sauce and 3/4 Cup Chicken Stock (MY CUP MEASURES : 160ml) Ideally its 1 cup raw pasta (heaped) : 1 3/4 cup liquid
Cover pan add the weight and Cook on medium for 2 Whistles
Open after 10 mins
Add the cream, mix and happily serve.
The Pasta is perfectly cooked soft the way I like it and absorbs the flavors of the sauce so well that I will not go back to the traditional draining method unless off course you want it “Al Dente” 🙂
*Notes : If you dont have Cajun Seasoning, add a 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 1/2 tsp Coriander powder and 1/4 tsp italian seasoning
A good substitute for pasta sauce :
Olive oil, garlic and pureed tomatoes, (2 medium ripe) Cook for about 5 minutes till oil surfaces. Add little chicken or vegetable stock. Add stock cube if you dont have chicken stock. Add italian seasons (1/2 tsp) and you’re good to go
One of the pictures above has broccoli in it. That’s just a variation in the recipe
My local picks :
Cream : Woolworths thickened cream
Pasta Sauce : Casa Barelli Premium pasta sauce from ALDI
The Steamy Pot 