Vegetarian Pasta Recipe

We invited Surfer Matt and his girlfriend Aline over for dinner. This pasta is so easy and quick to make. It’s a delicious savory dinner that will satisfy vegetarians and meat eaters in one meal. A great standby when you have unexpected guests.

Tamra: We have a friend whom we call Surfer Matt, last summer he came to live with us in Malibu to help me with the boys while Mike is on tour. He was in New York visiting his girlfriend, Brazilian model Alini, and they're both vegetarians. I wanted to make a delicious dinner everyone would enjoy. This pasta is kind of like a BLT, it’s savory and satisfying and easy to make. Start by chopping your garlic, onions, tomatoes, and broccoli. You can also substitute almost any vegetable for the broccoli. Toast about a half a cup of pine nuts with a little bit of salt. When they are brown, set them aside. I'm using a meat substitute called Faking Bacon. It’s made from tempe and it taste like bacon and its delicious. Fry on both sides 'til it’s crispy and set aside on a paper towel. Then put some more hot oil into your frying pan and add onions and garlic and red hot pepper flake. Add your chopped tomatoes and stir and simmer. Then chop your tempe bacon and add that to the frying pan. Add a little vegetable stock or water to create a nice sauce and then add your broccoli. Simmer and cover. Next I'm going to make this celery soup based on any vegetable recipe that’s in my cookbook. Melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter or margarine in a sauce pan. Add onions, garlic, red hot pepper flakes, and celery. Add enough vegetable stock to cover and simmer. We first met Matt in Kuwai when he was 19 years old. His parents are yoga instructors and he's a yoga instructor now too. Both Matt and Alini have a beautiful yoga practice, and they're also fantastic surfers. Now it’s time for me to put the pasta in the boiling salted water. And when the celery is softened, it’s time to blend it. Add cool water to the blender so you make sure not to blend hot liquids. They can explode. Matt and Alini played with the kids, they're so happy to see them. And I strained the soup to get rid of any chunks and put it back on the stove to simmer. Strain the pasta when it’s al dente because it will keep cooking a little after. And mix it together with the sauce, careful to coat each piece. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with pine nuts, and parmesan cheese. Serve the soup with a garnish of parsley or cilantro. It was a delicious dinner. And we were lucky to have a little visitor. Girl: Surfer Matt I love you. Surfer Matt: I love you too.