When you have young children at home, you have no choice but to be innovative and come up with interesting twists to existing dishes just to entice them and basically make them feel as if you are creating this ‘restaurant style’ dish just for them! This weekend we decided to finally start our ‘spring cleaning’ routine and of course the kids had to help out too. Starting soon after breakfast pretty soon a couple hours had passed while the clutter in the garage had reduced only by half. However the helping hands started to complain about feeling ‘famished’ already. OK so what were the options for lunch – How about a quick bread and omelette sandwich? Nah. OK how about a veggie grilled cheese? Nah, not in the mood.! Finally exasperated I said ‘Mom will make something and you will just have to eat it. Too bad.!’
I picked up the pasta box from the pantry and got to work. In about 30 minutes flat, I laid out this fabulous creamy pasta in a bed of vegetables and asked my kids to guess the secret ingredient. Well they dug in and loved the creamy sauce but could not guess what the mystery ingredient was.! Who knew how versatile peanut butter could be! Goes without saying that I will be making this more often going forward ! 🙂
I used cauliflower,spinach,broccoli and red pepper. But you could use any combination of vegetables. Adding a few shrimp would make this truly spectacular! I am going to share this at Fiesta Friday even though I am pretty late this week for the party! 🙂
Stepwise pictures:
This looks soooooo good! I know my family would just love/adore this! Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome Kloe. Let me know how you make out.:)
This looks delicious!! How lucky your kids are to have you cook even lunch for them! Growing up, lunch at our house was always either sandwiches or leftovers from previous nights’ dinners – no other options! I’m definitely pinning this to try soon!
ha ha. Yes I am spoiling my kids! We also do have leftovers but weekends I do end up cooking like crazy! 🙂 Hope you like this recipe! 🙂
pasta & peanut butter? you just can’t go wrong. Looks great, Indu!
Thanks Aditi! Yes my kids just love peanut butter! So I thought why not?? if anything it would get them to eat the vegetables!
I’ve come to the conclusion, that if it’s from Indu, it’s gonna be good! Looks delicious! Sounds like it’s just the right amount of heat for my persnickety palate too. 🙂 Glad you made it the Fiesta…your pasta looks like it was worth the wait!
Nancy you are just too kind! Thanks so much for your comment. Yes this one did turn out to be a hit. Btw You and Ngan are such awesome hosts? so attentive to everyone!
🙂 Your welcome Indu…and thank you! Co-hosting with Ngan has been a lot of fun, Angie was so kind in allowing us to help out!
Fiesta Friday is indeed so much fun! Love the interactions! 🙂
I just love peanut butter sauces over anything, your recipe sounds and looks delicious, especially the marinara sauce with peanut butter added to it. I need to try this 🙂
Thanks Judi! Yup this was one delicious sauce! Marinara, cheese and peanut butter all rolled into one creamy sauce!?
I love peanut sauce. I have a favorite restaurant in Austin that serves a pasta dish with peanut sauce …so good. I will have to try this one!
Oh wow so good to know that, Arlene.Yes my kids absolutely love peanut butter so I thought why not? ?do try it and lmk how you like it!?
Will do and thanks for sharing!
I’m trying this tonight! Since I’m vegan, I may substitute milk for coconut milk (or soy) and just leave out the cheese! This sounds and looks SO good!
Thanks Susan. Yes your idea with coconut milk sounds too good! ?
Ok I’ll use the coconut milk! That was my first instinct! I’m really looking forward to DINNER! 😉
Lmk how you make out. I have a feeling it will be delicious!?
Looks absolutely yum!
Thanks Radhika!
That looks so interesting, the peanut butter in the sauce must be lovely? X
thanks Elaine. Sorry I missed your comment before and didn’t see it until now! 🙂 yes I added just enough peanut butter to get a hint of it in the sauce. It was not too overwhelming.
Cool, very interesting, my son loves peanut butter
I’m with Angie, peanut butter with pasta – must try! 🙂
thanks so much Saucy. yeah can’t go wrong with peanut butter right? 🙂
Hi Indu! Better let than never, and it is always so great to see you at Fiesta Friday! I love the sound of this pasta dish. It seems almost like a Thai fusion dish to me with the peanut sauce combined with the creamy ingredients. Yum! Hope you had a lovely weekend!
Thanks Ngan. Yes I thought how could I miss it when two of my good friends were co- hosting it? You are doing an awesome job btw. And yes thai and italian fusion right??
Ooh, I love creamy pasta sauces, Indu! How creative of you to make this in 30 minutes!
Hi Patty I know you love creamy pasta as you made that lovely creamy sauce a few weeks ago yourself! Yes this one can be made in 30 mins as long as you plan it properly. The key is to start working while the pasta is cooking.!
I also love that your pasta is chock full of yummy veggies. I can’t wait to try it!
yes I just love veggies so much. They make everything so delicious and appealing! Slowly getting my kids to appreciate that too. 🙂
[…] Indu […]
I was just about to shut down the computer and you came popping up! A recipe link-up from Indu. Must. See. So glad I did. Pasta in peanut butter sauce? Sounds like something I have to try, Indu. Thanks for sharing! <3
ha ha! thanks Angie – you make me feel so special 🙂 ! Much love to you. Hope you had a lovely Easter!