I sometimes wonder if I am the only one who loves stewed tomatoes as much as I do, because I don’t know anyone else who feels quite the same about them. I think they must have a bad rap, because they are in fact really great. I use them often in recipes like sautes, chili, soups.
This recipe is actually a number of different recipes. Instead of the steak strips use vegetables like broccoli, beans, cauliflower, asparagus, zucchini, and yellow squash. One or any combination is great. The trick is to saute some veggies or in this version those Lightlife Smart Menu Steak Strips and vegetables, then when they are properly singed toss in the stewed tomatoes and spoon over pasta.
The stewed tomatoes supply a nice thin sauce that is extremely tasty. Give it a try, it only takes a few minutes to make.
You can make this recipe completely vegan by using Parma! or any Vegan Parmesan Alternative. Vegan Parmesan cheese does have a different taste to it, I won’t lie to you. If you haven’t tried it before you probably will notice it and for me, it took some getting used to.
Although my cat Scout loves it, and she is not vegan.
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Stewed Tomato Pasta
1 pkg. Smart Menu Steak Style Strips
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 large cloves of garlic, chopped fine
6-8oz mushrooms
Handful of fresh Italian parsley, chopped (optional)
2 cans Italian stewed tomatoes (I like Del Monte)
Olive oil
1 pkg. angel hair pasta (cappellini)
Vegan Parmesan cheese
1.) Put a pot of water on to boil, turn heat on high.
2.) Saute steak strips and vegetables in a good amount of olive oil (2-3 Tbs.)
3.) When strips and veggies are brown around the edges toss in the garlic and parsley and saute 1-2 minutes.
4.) Add the stewed tomatoes and turn down the heat to a simmer. (I cut up the stewed tomatoes a bit, usually just slice them in half with a knife right in the pan after turning down the heat. Do it while the pasta’s cooking)
5.) Place angel hair pasta in boiling water. Follow package directions, it should cook in about 3 min.
6.) When pasta is done, place it on plates and spoon stewed tomato, steak strip, veggie sauce over it. (If the stewed tomato mixture thickens up too much while you are cooking the pasta, you can add just a touch of water to it, but it doesn’t make a thick pasta sauce. It creates a very thin sauce that is filled with the other stuff)
7.) Sprinkle with vegan Parmesan cheese.
Makes 4 small servings or 2 large ones. Serve with a salad and garlic bread if you want to get fancy.