Cappelletti Cooking

Being too busy and having little time to cook a decent meal, isn't an excuse to eat the same things over again - all the time. Whether you're a student or in employment, we all know we don't always have the time to be creative and experiment on trying new recipes. Some meals can be time-consuming, but for someone who is known to move quite slowly around the kitchen, this definitely helps me. This is particularly the case when I need to be at some place else in two hours.

Introducing: the Ham Cappelletti with spinach in a tomato base - the easy way. A super quick meal that's tasty and actually rather easy to make.

You'll need:

Ham Cappelletti (can be substituted with spinach- or cheese-stuffed tortelloni)
1 Can of chopped tomatoes in tomato sauce
Tomato paste
1 Medium-sized onion
1 Clove of garlic (add more if you like a lot of garlic)
Spinach
Cheese
Salt & Pepper
Cooking Olive Oil
Optional: chili flakes and fresh chili.

Method:

1. Take a few handfuls of spinach and wash in a colander until all clean.
2. Add a bit of salt into boiled water in a saucepan.
3. Put in cappelletti in the water - boil for approx. 4-5 mins, check the pasta occasionally (option to cook the pasta slightly 'just past al dente').
4. Chop the onion and garlic clove (and the chili, if you choose to add this in)
5. Sauté the onions in a pan filled with a little dash of olive oil, until transparent, then add in the chopped garlic (also the chopped chili and flakes).
6. Pour in the can of chopped tomatoes (or passatta).
7. Add in a little water to the pan to make it more 'saucy' and tomato paste according to how strong of a tomato taste you want.
8. Add the spinach on the top and cook until all have wilted - put a lid on the saucepan to speed up this process.
9. Drain the cooked pasta in another colander and place the pasta into the main pan with the sauce.
10. Mix everything well - season to taste with salt and pepper.
11. Dish complete!

Additional:

• Sometimes I grate in cheese whilst the pasta is still in the pan, put the lid on and wait until the cheese has melted. Stir everything then serve on a deep plate, then season if needed.
• Another option is to serve the pasta with the sauce on a deep plate, then grate cheese on top and season to taste.

Such a simple and quick way to cook up a delicious dinner. What's more is that it's a flexible recipe. I tend to form my meals based on what I have available. You can adjust the amounts to your liking, season it to taste and you can vary the elements for days you want to 'spice things up' a little.

Examples of variations. Just add to the ham cappelletti (or to Spinach tortellini):

• Tomato passatta, diced chicken breasts, half a red chili, mushrooms.
• Diced paprika chicken, half red chili, chili flakes, bell peppers.

Why not be more inventive and try other combinations?

Bon Appétit!