2 fresh long green chilies, deseeded, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of brown mustard seeds
2 teaspoons of ground coriander
2 x finely chopped tomatoes
325ml of water
2 x 400g of cans red kidney beans, rinsed, drained
350g of sweet potato, peeled, chopped
Pinch white sugar
8 pappadums
Fresh small coriander leaves, to serve
Instructions
Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion and celery, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, ginger, chili, mustard seeds and coriander. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until aromatic.
Add tomato and water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add beans and sweet potato. Simmer, covered, for 25-30 minutes or until potato is tender and curry is thick. Season to taste with pepper and a pinch of sugar.
Microwave pappadums following packet directions. Serve curry with papadums and sprinkled with coriander.
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, plus extra to serve
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil leaves, plus extra to serve
1/2 cup of grated mozzarella
1/4 cup of finely grated parmesan
Instructions
Heat oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion. Cook for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the mince. Cook, breaking up lumps with a wooden spoon, for 6 to 8 minutes or until browned. Add garlic. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add flour and tomato paste. Stir to combine. Add pasta sauce and stock. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until thickened slightly.
Break up lasagna sheets into 6cm pieces. Add to soup. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until pasta is tender. Add milk, parsley and basil. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
Ladle soup among serving bowls. Top with mozzarella, parmesan and extra parsley and basil. Serve.
Budget tomato and bacon rigatoni with garlic bread
Ingredients
1 packet of rigatoni pasta
1 packet of garlic bread
8 slices of fat-free rindless shortcut bacon rashers, cut into strips
1 bottle of pasta sauce
1 tin of Italian-style canned diced tomato
Instructions
Preheat the oven according to the garlic bread packet directions.
Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil over high heat and add the pasta. Return to the boil and cook for 13 minutes. Drain the pasta and return to the saucepan.
While the pasta is cooking, place the garlic bread in the oven and cook for 14 minutes.
In a medium non-stick frying pan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes.
Add the pasta sauce and diced tomato to the frying pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes.
Transfer the sauce to the saucepan and toss with the pasta. Serve in bowls with the hot garlic bread on the side.