Pasta Shells in Tomato Basil Sauce with Garlic Butter Mushrooms is a simple vegetarian meal. Or it's a simple vegetarian side dish. You decide.
A good store bought pasta sauce is a busy or tired cook's friend. Add garlic butter mushrooms for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Pasta Shells in Tomato Basil Sauce with Garlic Butter Mushrooms
Text and Photo by Jac Kyles Baker
Serves 1 as a main course. Serves 2 as a side dish.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups small shell pasta
4 medium to large cremini mushroom caps, sliced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 TB butter
1/3 cup tomato basil pasta sauce
salt and pepper to taste
red pepper flakes (optional)
extra virgin olive oil (optional)
Preparation
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and add pasta to a large microwaveable bowl. Cover and set aside.
Place cooked pasta in a large microwave safe bowl. Stir sauce into pasta. Cover and set aside.
Add mushrooms, garlic and butter to a microwave safe bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir ingredients together and cover bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes.
Carefully remove bowl from microwave. Stir mushrooms into pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Microwave on HIGH for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. Carefully remove from microwave. Sprinkle with red chili flakes and/or drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, if desired.
Serve immediately.