Multicolor pasta (the secret is in the sauce)

Short post: I hope I can make it to this week’s Presto Pasta Nights. If not, at least I will have my entry for next week’s roundup ready :p Anyway. I was going through my fridge and pantry the other night and I realized I had some leftovers that needed to be used, a zucchini, a couple of tomatillos and some tomatoes. So I decided to use them all in a pasta dish. Don’t you love the versatility of pasta?

I cooked a box of multicolor pasta (I really don’t remember where it came from) al dente and prepared a sauce. I sauteed 1/2 onion and 2 garlic cloves in 2 TBSP of olive oil. I added 1 lb ground turkey and cook until it started to brown. I then added about .75 lb tomatillos, 2 medium size tomatoes, 1 zucchini (all chopped), 1 chipotle adobado pepper, 1 tsp oregano, salt and pepper and cooked for 15 minutes over medium heat. I finally served the sauce on top of the pasta.

It was a very easy to make, frugal and delicious dinner (the secret is in the sauce). That’s why this “recipe” is also my entry for Frugal Fridays. I used leftovers so I really don’t have any idea on how much I spent on this dinner, but I am sure it wasn’t that much. The most expensive ingredient was probably the ground turkey at about US $2.00 and this dinner definitely would feed a family of 4. As a matter of fact. I still have some leftoverst taht I am going to eat for lunch today.

¡Buen proveho!

Tagged as: Easy recipes, Food events, Frugal Fridays, Pasta, Presto Pasta Nights, Salsas and sauces, Turkey

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About Author

Ben

grew up around food. His family owned a restaurant in Mexico City and he spent a big deal of his childhood helping and learning after school the art of creating delicious dishes from simple ingredients. He created this blog to share his kitchen adventures with the world.

(25) Readers Comments

Peter G
August 22, 2008 at 10:34 am

I agree about the versatility of pasta…and you have def proven it here with your recipe Ben! It looks so easy.

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Jen of a2eatwrite
August 22, 2008 at 11:01 am

I love the ease of throwing almost anything together with pasta. It’s also true of rice, but C isn’t a big rice fan, so pasta is often the default choice.

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Ruth
August 22, 2008 at 11:08 am

Ben, I do love pasta. It’s a perfect foil for any kind of leftovers. Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.

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recipes2share
August 22, 2008 at 11:13 am

What a marvel you have created out of leftovers. Yes, I agree, the versatility of pasta is never ending and fabulous. Have a great weekend!

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Christina
August 22, 2008 at 12:12 pm

Sauces like this are good because it’s a change from Italian-style. Also, some of the best creations come from using up ingredients you wouldn’t otherwise think to use.

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JennDZ_The LeftoverQueen
August 22, 2008 at 1:17 pm

That sounds delicious Ben! I love the versatility of pasta – we have been eating a lot of it over the past few days – comfort food to get through the storm….I would love a bowl of yours right now!

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Adam
August 22, 2008 at 2:19 pm

That’s one cheap, great dinner right there. How do they make multicolor pasta? I actually don’t remember it tasting different than it’s one color counterpart…. however it’s been awhile.

I’ve never had tomatillo’s before, but I found tomatillo salsa on sale at Target. I’m giving it a shot.

Dude, your comment on FFF was hilarious. Man or woman… they all check out butts

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Ivy
August 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm

Simple, easy, quick, delicious and cheap. What else do we want?

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Heather
August 23, 2008 at 12:55 am

Ivy took the words right out of my mouth! Looks like a perfect quick n’ healthy meal.

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Lore
August 23, 2008 at 2:21 am

Ditto to Ivy plus a pasta dish never looked brighter. Yum!

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Dell
August 23, 2008 at 9:26 am

pasta is a regular for me as you can do so many things with it. this looks yum, & Ben thanks for the reminder re multi coloured pasta

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Mikky
August 23, 2008 at 11:34 am

very apt in a time like this where all of us should learn how save … very creative… leftovers that were deliciously cooked too… thanks for sharing…

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courtney
August 23, 2008 at 5:53 pm

Pasta is versatile and adapts to so many dishes. Wonderful.

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pixen
August 24, 2008 at 4:04 pm

Delicioussssssslurphhhh! I love pasta with a kick using chile ahumado! Fast to cook, good to eat. Slurp it to the last drip… LOL

Now I wonder if there’s any 2-tone pasta? I have this habit of looking for weird machine made pasta each time I’m at the pasta section. In fact, I have several choices of pasta to go for different sauces which my family always on look out of what I bought in case there’s duplication LOL. I hope to see Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Marille and Philippe Starck’s Mandala

Thanks for the recipe!

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Matin
August 24, 2008 at 5:57 pm

Looks great, I have never used ground turkey in pasta sauce before but yours looks very inviting:-)
X M

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Srivalli
August 25, 2008 at 3:45 am

Ben, that sure looks great way to have pasta on a plate!…lovely dish..

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Nikki
August 25, 2008 at 6:39 am

I need more tomatillos in my life. You pasta looks good

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Deborah
August 27, 2008 at 12:27 pm

It always feels good to use up leftovers! And this looks mighty tasty!

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clumbsycookie
August 27, 2008 at 5:21 pm

I told you i love zucchini allready, haven’t I? The pasta looks great, I’m allways up for colorful food!

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Kevin
August 27, 2008 at 5:42 pm

Pasta is great for quick meals and cleaning out the fridge. This pasta sounds tasty. I like the use of the tomatillos in it.

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canarygirl
August 28, 2008 at 2:24 am

I love this sort of impromptu pasta dish! Fresh, delicious and frugal! I kind of want to throw some avocadoes in there and have it for lunch.

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Hillary
September 3, 2008 at 4:30 pm

This is great! It’s like a “clean the fridge” pasta that totally works! It makes me want to go buy a box of tri colored pasta.

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Ulysses Dickson
January 9, 2009 at 11:25 am

hi
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good luck

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tony
March 29, 2009 at 8:22 pm

Fontanarosa Gourmet Specialty Foods makes a two toned pasta
straight cut fettucchini one side black one side white or one side spinach and the other smoke papprika

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