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Super Simple Roasted Sage Pumpkin Tagliatelle Aglio e Oglio

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To be fair, this name sounds way more complicated than this dish actually is!! It seems fancy, however, it is super easy to make! You have got that soft and warm roasted pumpkin, spiced with sage, the al dente cooked pasta tossed in some olive oil flavored with garlic and then that parmesan cheese on top for some cheesy contrast! All in all: pure comfort heaven! My friend’s mom would make that day in day out during fall and we‘d go to her house and have it in every lunch break. Seriously, it was SO good and we literally could never wait to get there. So, there was no way around making a recipe of this!

What is Aglio e Oglio?

Very good question. Aglio e Oglio is Italian and literally translated means garlic and oil. In Italy Spaghetti Aglio e Oglio is a very typical dish since it is easy to make (you only need pasta, oil, garlic and chili) and is super affordable. If you have never tried it, it may seem a bit boring but when prepared with some good olive and al dente pasta it tastes amazing!! Sometimes the simplest things are the best.

What is special about this dish?

However, we are leveling it up a bit and are creating a fall version of this Italian classic. We are skipping the chili and instead are adding roasted pumpkin to the pasta. The pumpkin is spiced with a little sage and then baked in the oven before it is being added to the pasta since it takes longer to cook than the rest. Also, instead of spaghetti, tagliatelle are used in here. The flat and wider shape of them just works better with the roasted pumpkin! These little changes transform the classic into a seasonal, cozy, delicious meal!

Which pumpkin should be used?

In this dish I prefer to use butternut squash. This is the pear-shaped light orange pumpkin. Contrary to hokkaido squash it has a lighter and buttery taste to it and a little sweet note that is enhanced when baked. In my opinion these flavors work in great harmony with the pasta and give a nice contrast to the sage! However, if you have another pumpkin favorite, feel free to use that!

Is this dish healthy?

First of all, this meal is very healthy for the soul. This cozy, warm, carby goodness is pure comfort food!! Besides, it definitely can be said that it contains a lot of nutritional value. The pumpkin, for example, is a great source of Vitamin A, C and E as well as fibre and iron, which benefits your immune system (great for the cold months ahead) and your digestive system!

What is more, the oil for example is an amazing source of unsaturated, healthy fat. These fats are essential for your brain and many other aspects in your body. The pasta makes a great source of carbohydrates, making sure you stay energized and also comes with a decent amount of protein. If you want to make it even healthier, you could substitute it for wholegrain pasta, although I need to say that the flavor definitely is better with “regular” pasta.

Ready in 25 minutes (max)!

Not only does this dish take very little time to make, but it also is super easy!

To make it, start by removing the peel and seeds from the pumpkin. After, it needs to be chopped into about 1cm sized cubes (makes it easier to toss with the pasta and allows for a reduced cooking time) before being tossed with a little olive oil, salt and finely minced sage. The mix then is baked at 220°C for 15-20 minutes until the pumpkin is nice and golden brown and soft.

In the meantime the pasta can be cooked according to package instructions, the garlic can already be finely sliced and the parmesan can be grated. Just before pumpkin and pasta are done, a little olive oil can be heated up in a pan and the garlic and sage can be fried in there for a minute before taking it off the heat. Now the cooked pasta, pumpkin cubes and parmesan can be added and everything can be tossed. And that already is it! Pretty simple right?

Meal-prep-options:

Pre-making and storing the entire dish, I would not recommend. Reheated pasta just does not taste as good! Instead, you can premake (essentially preroast) the pumpkin and store this, since the pumpkin is what is time consuming. Whenever you then want to make this dish, you solely need to cook the pasta and start from there. This already saved you a bunch of time!

All in all I hope that you will love this dish as much as we do and that you will have lots and lots of cozy fall evenings!!

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Super Simple Roasted Sage Pumpkin Tagliatelle Aglio e Oglio

This seasonal twist on the Italian all-time classic takes fall comfort food next level! Roasted sage-pumpkin along with some cheesy, garlicy pasta equals heaven! Plus, it is super easy to make and ready in 25 minutes!

Course dinner, lunch, Main Course, pasta
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 15 Minuten
Total Time 25 Minuten
Servings 4 servings

What you will need

  • 500 g tagliatelle
  • 600 g butternut squash
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley + 6-8 extra leaves
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 6-8 tbsp olive oil
  • 50 g finely grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves of garlic

How to

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 220°C. Remove the peel and seeds of the pumpkin and then chop it into about 1cm sized cubes. Toss with nutmeg, salt, sage and about 2 tbsp of the olive oil before placing it on a baking tray and baking it for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and soft.

  2. In the meantime finely slice the garlic and prepare the pasta according to package instructions. Once the pasta is done cooking, drain it and take the pumpkin put of the oven. Only then heat up the oil and fry the garlic and sage leaves in it for about a minute before taking it off the heat and mixing it with the pumpkin cubes, grated parmesan and pasta.

  3. Serve with fresh sage, more parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil and enjoy!

Enjoy,
Katie

Creamy Tomato Chili Garlic Prawns (How to Get Your Family to Eat Veggies)

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Getting a brother who is a non-vegetable fan to eat veggies seems impossible. But this dish actually makes him ask for it! A creamy, spicy, garlicy tomato sauce that is packed with flavor and deliciousness with soft cooked prawns soaking in it and some bread to dip in – how could someone possibly not ask for this dish? Bonus: it really is not difficult to prepare, meaning anyone could make it and it takes very little time to make.

The claim with my brother is no joke: whenever he gets to choose something I cook for him, he asks for this. And yes, technically tomatoes are fruits and not veggies, but this is such a great way to sneak in some extra vitamins for non-veggie fans!

What is special about this dish?

It is not your regular chili-garlic prawns but a bit fancier. Like a crossover of dish and a a creamy tomato sauce that you‘d add onto pasta. And this is not only what makes this recipe unique but it accounts for the delicious, creamy flavor.

What else is quite special about this dish is that it is really versatile. Depending on season and pantry/ fridge stocking, you can adjust it. For example, if you do not have fresh cherry tomatoes, you could also use large tomatoes or canned ones. That even enables you to cook this in winter, when tomatoes are not in season. Another switch would be substituting the bread. In case of not having bread at home, to go along with it, it can be switched for rice, quinoa or even pasta. Also, the prawns can vary from time to time. If you can only find smaller ones, use those – it‘ll be delicious anyway! If you happen to find large ones though – great! Even better!

Is this dish healthy?

It can definitely be claimed that this dish is nutrient dense. It comes with a bunch of nutrients from all different sources! First of all, the tomatoes account for a solid base of fibre and vitamins. The chili and garlic add even more. The prawns provide a large serving of protein, iron and calcium. Also, they come with a range of vitamins and minerals to keep your immune system strong and stable.

The olive oil and greek yoghurt found in the sauce make sure you have a healthy amount of unsaturated fats and even more protein. The wine we add to the dish mainly is a source of flavor, and no worries, the alcohol cooks down anyway. When serving with some sort of grain (such as bread, rice, quinoa or pasta), we also make sure that we consume enough carbs to stay energized. Make it wholegrain for even more fibre and nutrients! As you can see, this dish indeed is packed with nutrients that will keep you happy and healthy!

Can really anyone make this?

I‘d definitely argue so! It is so easy! The first thing that needs to be done is to thaw the prawns. The probably easiest way to do so is placing the frozen prawns in a bowl with warm water. By changing the water every now and then, as soon as it gets cold, and refilling it with warm water, lets the prawns defrost slowly. Once they are free of ice, they can be drained and laid out on a kitchen towel to let them dry. It is important that they are really dry and do not let any water for several reasons: first, they won‘t turn as crispy if they are still wet and secondly, the water will splash in the hot oil. And this can hurt when touching your skin.

That already was the most challenging part. All that is left to do now is to finely slice or mince the garlic and chili and to half or quarter the tomatoes. Or to chop them into bite sized pieces if using larger ones. First the spices and then the tomatoes and prawns are fried in a little olive oil and then deglazed with white wine. Just before serving we still stir in a little ricotta or greek yoghurt and tomato sauce and voilà, it is ready to be served! Easy right?

To be honest, it is impossible to imagine our staple recipes without this one, I can only suggest you try it out!

If you have any questions or comments on remakes, I would be more than happy to see and answer them! Just comment below here or text me on instagram (@uneptcuisiniere)!

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Creamy Tomato Chili Garlic Prawns (How to Get Your Family to Eat Veggies)

Imagining out Mealplan without this recipe is impossible – spicy prawns drowning in a creamy, delicious tomato sauce packed with flavor. Some fresh bread to accompany it? Plus, it is ready in 25 minutes (at max!!)! Who could even say no to that?

Course dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 10 Minuten
Total Time 20 Minuten
Servings 4 servings

What you will need

  • 1 kg prawns (thawed if they had been frozen before)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1-2 fresh chili (depending on how spicy you like it)
  • 3-4 cloves of garlic
  • 500 g (cherry) tomatoes (you can also use canned tomatoes if not in season)
  • 100 g greek yoghurt or ricotta
  • a splash of white wine
  • 100 ml tomato sauce
  • salt, pepper, oregano

How to

  1. Finely slice the garlic and mince the chili. Half the cherry tomatoes or cut them into bite sized pieces, if using larger ones.

  2. Pat the thawed prawns dry. To a pan add the olive oil, garlic and chili and heat up all together. Once hot, let them fry for about 1-2 minutes before adding the prawns and tomatoes (in case of using canned tomatoes, let the prawns fry for a 2-4 minutes before adding them in).

  3. Generously salt, pepper and season with dried oregano. After about 4 minutes of frying, add a splash or white wine, turn the heat down to medium heat and let it simmer for about 4-5 minutes. You may need to add a little more wine.

  4. Generously salt, pepper and season with dried oregano. After about 4 minutes of frying, add a splash or white wine, turn the heat down to medium heat and let it simmer for about 4-5 minutes. You may need to add a little more wine.

  5. In the meantime prepare a side to accompany it. Just before serving, stir in the tomato sauce and greek yoghurt or ricotta and let cook for another minute. Serve and enjoy!

And now I do not want to hold you back from cooking for too long – so bon appétit!
Enjoy,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

My October Top 6

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After a little summer break we‘re back – just in time for the start of fall. A bunch of you told me that you missed the Top 6 series and really, I missed it too. So, let‘s continue with it and start the fall the best possible way! We again are covering my favorite restaurant, recipe, food, workout, inspiration and product for the month of October. Before we start, let me tell you: you can be very excited for what’s to come! As always: nothing here is sponsored or influenced in any way, those all are personal favorites that I genuinely enjoy!

Restaurant of the month – das Vivet

As a Viennese it seems a bit embarrassing to say that I had not known das Vivet until a few weeks ago. Apparently it is a very popular brunch, lunch & drinks restaurant/ bar for young people. Well, better late than never, we went there and it has become very clear why it is so popular!

The furniture is rather simple and cool, with a little vintage vibe. The bar probably is the star of the show interior wise – fully stocked and looking incredible! We though, had not come for drinks but for brunch. And you know, expectations were very high due to all the good reviews I have heard. And Das Vivet definitely did not disappoint.

We had pretty much ordered the entire menu – up and down and really enjoyed it! Avocado-Cottage Cheese Bread, Vegan Trio, Smoothie Bowls, Pancakes with Bacon, Egg & Maple Syrup and Sweet Pancakes. If you go there, the sweet pancakes are a must!! We actually enjoyed them so much that we reordered them a second time! All dishes were different from each other, yet tasted really good. And the bread!! It was heaven. If I am being honest, I would recommend anything but the Vegan Trio – it personally did not convince me. Other than that: I can only highly recommend trying it out! And I would love to know how you like it!

Food of the month – Tofu

Tofu: the staple ingredient in any vegan‘s or vegetarian‘s kitchen! How could it not be? It is cheap, it is super versatile, you can pretty much find it at any supermarket and it is healthy! Wait – is it? Let us find out!

Without a doubt, tofu is one of the most popular plant-based sources of protein! How come? Not only its high protein content contributes to this, but also the fact that tofu is a ‚complete protein‘. This means that it contains all the essential amino acids, 9 to be exact, which our body cannot produce by itself and therefore has to absorb it through the food we eat. These amino acids are essential for us in order to really make use of the protein, repair tissue and absorb nutrients!

Moreover, tofu also comes along with several other nutritious stars! It also contains fibre, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, copper, and so on. It would take ages explaining how all of those are important to us, but it is good to know that tofu is a great source of them!

What is more, tofu also is way less harmful to the environment than most other meat sources. Compared to beef for example, which produces 50kgCo2e (the e stands for equivalents) per 100g of protein, tofu only produces 2kgCo2e. Keep in mind that this is the case for both products being produced at more or less the same place. And yes, maybe surprisingly to some, there is tofu that has been produced in Austria! Just check next time you go to the store!

So, all in all it definitely can be said that tofu indeed is a very healthy food, good for ourselves and good for the planet. If you now need some ideas for how to use it you can either scroll to the next point – the recipe of the month, or click on one of the following recipes: the best ever 15-minute veggie tofu peanut noodle stir-fry, 20 minute vegan peanut & greens spring sushirrito, super easy 20-minute sticky orange tofu, saucy green curry noodles with oven baked crispy sesame tofu,

Recipe of the month – Better than Takeout Crispy Sweet Chili Tofu

This recipe is called „Better than Takeout“ for a reason. This tofu recipes is better than any dish you could order. Plus, it really is not hard to make, meaning: there are no excuses not to make it!

What is so amazing about this recipe is that we have this crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside tofu that is packed with flavor. And although it has been tossed in a sauce after baking, it still is quite crispy. Yet, the sauce makes sure it actually tastes good and not like that plain tofu pulp in your mouth.

Even better so, the sweet chili sauce is not the average one you buy at the store. Not difficult to make, it is a healthier version of the regular one. What is more, it also tastes bettet because it is homemade. And you can also use the sauce in so many different ways, not only with tofu. Use it as a dressing, throw it into stir fries, use it as a dip. The options are endless (and all delicious), so you better make sure you never run out of this deliciousness!

Brand of the month – Franzlbauer

It feels a bit wrong to call this a brand, but I think you get the point. Franzlbauer is a farmer in lower Austria (a half an hour car drive from Vienna), growing the most amazing pumpkins! You feel as if you were in a Disney movie when you come here!

While a pumpkin farm may not seem like the most interesting thing ever, Franzlbauer really proves this wrong. It is located in a small village and to your left and to your right, there are fields (where you can even pick flowers yourself!)!

The farm-shop itself also is pretty cool! There is a exhibition of 400 different kinds of pumpkin (like whaaaat) in all different colors – orange, yellow, green, grey, white, … a real paradise! Then in the shop you can also buy plenty different pumpkins! From basic Hokkaido & Buttern Squash to acorn squash and Thai-pumpkin. A real paradise.

Maybe you do not find a pumpkin farm too exciting, however I think it is so amazing to take a ride and go there and see where your food is coming from. See the fields and the fresh produce and bear a reference to where your food actually is coming from and where it is grown. What is more, this is the perfect occasion to try something new, grab and cook a pumpkin you have never had before and cook something different! On top of that, the pumpkins there are way cheeper than in regular supermarkets – another bonus!

It may have been the first time I went to Franzlbauer but it for sure is not the last time. It was such a great experience and I can only recommend going there!

Workout of the month – Christa DiPaolo Full Body Kickboxing Workout

A sweat session that makes sure you are sore on your entire body afterwards and releases a hell lot of endorphins. Isn’t that exactly what you want from a workout? If it is, then this workout is PERFECT for you! Christa will make sure that you feel incredible after the workout!

After being semi-sick for several weeks, I really could not wait to go back to working out! And seriously, this was the best start. You know, there are some videos which make you love work out and some which make you hate it! This definitely is one of the first kind. Such an empowering, happy, powerful woman pushing you to your limits while having fun!

This boxing workout is a great mixture of cardio and strength in my opinion. You train your entire body, your abs, legs & arms while also jumping around a lot and improving your cardio. And all in a fun way – not a HIT-death kind of way!

So, if you really want to have some fun, there is no way around trying this workout!!

Inspiration of the month – Tuesdays with Morrie

This book – I don‘t even know how to describe it, I just love it! It js definitely not a regular book but one, that maybe will change your life. Or rather make you want to change your life! The full name of the book is „tuesdays with Morrie – an old man, a ypung man, and life‘s greatest lessons“ – and yes, the book does its title justice.

What you need to keep in mind when reading this book is that it actually is a true story, it had been written because of real events. That only makes it more touching.

So what is it about?

Basically, an old professor is diagnosed with an incurable illness. When one of his former students finds out about this, he comes visit him. And he continues to come every Tuesday. The two decide to view this weekly visit as a college class, going through one topic of life each week. The topics cover everything from regrers, feeling sorry for yourself, death, love, family, money, forgiveness, emotion and so on. All in all there are 14 topics covered.

What makes this book so special is not necessarily the topics but that it is genuinely told from an old man facing death and reflecting about his life. There are SO many great lessons you can take away from this book and it‘ll just let you see life from a different angle. It is pretty thin, about 170 pages, and therefore (unfortunately) a super quick read! I can only suggest you order or buy it right away and get ready to change your life!

So, here we are, in fall again! I hope that you will have an incredible month of October ahead of you and that you‘ll really enjoy the leaves turning orange, the beautiful light and the cozy days at home! And maybe, with one of these favorites, your month will get even better! Who knows?

If you try out any of those recommendations, I would love to hear how you like them!

Enjoy your fall,
Love,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

Super Comforting Turkish Roasted Bell Pepper & Lentil Soup

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Finally – it is soup season!! Isn‘t it the best feeling when the leaves are turning red and brown and the temperatures start to drop, while you are sitting inside, underneath a cozy blanket and enjoying a heavenly, warm bowl of soup? There are few things that are as cozy as this! And especially if you are enjoying this Ultra Creamy, Comforting Turkish-Inspired Roasted Red Bell Pepper Lentil Soup!

What is special about this dish?

We all know that soup basically is equal to comfort heaven. Yet, if you always have the same, good, old, pumpkin soup and chicken soup, it gets boring easily. So, in order to keep the soup game fun we need to switch things up. Just as we are doing with this soup – because it definitely is not your average soup!

Also, as the name says it is Turkish Inspired. Originally the lentil soup is made without bell pepper – but you know what? I thought a little veggie never hurt nobody, so why not adding it into the soup? What else is so great about this recipe is the creaminess of the soup. Soso heavenly thick and fillings – it is pure heaven. And the soup will actually keep you full and satisfied for long, because the lentils are packed with fibre.

Is this healthy?

Speaking of fibre, is this dish healthy? Soups tend to be pretty healthy in general because they mostly are packed with veggies. So is this soup. The main ingredient, the star of the show are the lentils. Those tiny, little things are packed with nutrients! They not only contain a decent amount of fibre, but also an incredible amount of plant based protein. This makes them a super nutritious base for the soup.

Regarding the rest of the ingredients, it can be said that they also are pretty nutritious. The bell peppers are loaded with vitamins and fibre and so are the onion and garlic. The vegetable broth mainly is added for the texture of the soup, but also may contain essential vitamins. The greek yoghurt on top is the dot on the eye, contributing a little more protein and deliciousness. The olive oil as a finishing touch makes sure you get your unsaturated fats and voilà, the perfectly balanced meal it is!

How to make this dish?

Soups (almost) never are difficult to make, so is this one. It really takes very little time and few ingredients to create such a delicious dish! All that needs to be done is sautéeing lentils and veggies, then covering it with broth and letting it simmer until the lentils are soft. We of course, do need to add some spices too, for that incredible flavor, but nothing too fancy or special. In the meantime the roasted red bell pepper can roast in the oven until golden brown. The process of roasting it will let the bell pepper intensify in flavor and sweetness!

Once both is done, it can all be blended up until having reached a creamy soup. It is beat not to add all liquid (from the broth) into the blender at once, this way you can adjust the consistency after blending. And that already is it! Isn’t it easy? If you want, you can also prepare a little salsa to go on top, by just finely chopping some jalapeños, cilantro and mint and mixing it with olive oil. This can go on top of the soup along with a dollop of greek yoghurt and some olive oil. Voilà! Enjoy!

Perfect for meal prep!

Just make a larger portion of it, let it cool to room temperature and fill it into tupperware. You can then freeze this and grab and thaw one whenever you are craving it. Or you know, on those days, when you are coming home exhaustedly and don’t really feel like cooking a lot! Just add a splash of water while reheating it and enjoy your meal!!

I genuinely hope, you‘ll enjoy this dish as much as we do and have an amazing time cooking it! Wishing you lots and lots of cozy fall days!

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Super Cozy Turkish Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Lentil Soup

This is not your average soup but a fun twist on the turkish, classic lentil soup. This Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Lentil Soup is a creamy heaven for cozy fall days and also so quick and easy to make! Plus, it is vegan and healthy – there are no excuses left not to make this!

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine turkish
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 20 Minuten
Total Time 30 Minuten
Servings 4 servings

What you will need

  • 300 g red lentils
  • 4 red bell peppers
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste (Tomatenmark)
  • 1,5 l vegetable broth

Optional to serve:

  • 2 jalapeno peppers
  • 1 tbsp mint & parsley
  • olive oil
  • greek yoghurt

How to

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 200°C. Remove the core of the bell pepper and cut in half. Lay out on a baking tray, sprinkle with salt, drizzle with half of the olive oil and bake for 20 minutes until soft and slightly brown on top.

  2. In the meantime peel and finely dice the onion, garlic and carrot. Heat up the remaining olive oil in a pot and fry them in there for about 2 minutes until fragrant before adding in the lentils, cumin, a little salt and tomato paste and letting fry for another minute. Add the vegetable broth and let simmer for about 15 minutes until the lentils are soft.

  3. In the meantime remove the seeds and finely chop the jalapeños, mint and parsley and mix with the olive oil for a salsa!

  4. Once the bell pepper is done, roughly chop it and mix it with the lentils, as soon as they have finished cooking. Do this with a blender or a hand blender until creamy. If too thick, add a little more water.

  5. Divide onto bowls, garnish with the salsa and a dollop of greek yoghurt and enjoy!

Enjoy,

Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière