Mini Shell Pasta With Tomato Basil Sauce

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Mini shell pasta is a big favorite at home. They take very little to cook compared to bigger types of pasta and ideal for kids. Earlier I had cooked mini shells with indian spices and it had come out very well and this time I prepared the sauce with tomato and lot of herbs like parsley and basil with some veggies. The flavors get absorbed very well by these mini shells. If you like pasta I am sure you would enjoy this too.

I got inspired to cook this tomato basil sauce from Sunita of Collaborative Curry where she used for her capellini pasta. I modified it slightly to suit my taste. Thank you Sunitha for the wonderful recipe you shared.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups pasta shells
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup bell pepper (red n green color)
• 3/4 cup diced mushroom
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 3 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 2 green chilli
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup grated parmeson cheese
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt to taste

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Cooking Procedure:

Add a little salt and oil to boiling water,let it boil for 30 sec then add the shell pasta (adding oil prevents the pasta to stick to each other).Let it cook till tender and drain the water and run under cold water for a 1 minute then drain again and keep the pasta aside.

Heat oil in a pan and add garlic, chopped onions and saute for a min then add bell pepper and stir for 1 min. Now add mushrooms, cover and let it cook for 1 min then add tomato puree,chopped parsley and dried basil. Stir and cook in a medium flame for 5 min. Then add tomato sauce,salt and pepper and mix nicely.

Now add pasta to it and stir to blend it nicely. Let it cook for 2 min, switch off the flame, add the grated cheese and stir nicely and serve hot.

I am sending this pasta to Nupur's BB#8-One Dish Meals
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Tags: mini shell pasta, tomato, mushroom, basil, parsley, tomato basil sauce