One Pot Wonder Tomato Basil Pasta

This is an amazingly simple, fresh, quick, delicious, and satisfying meal that can be easily served to family as well as to guests. Toss in a salad and you can have a complete meal in 30 minutes or less. While this recipe calls for canned diced tomatoes, you can easily substitute fresh tomatoes from your garden, the farmers market, or the produce section of your grocery store. The recipe below is a slightly modified version of the original recipe found at http://www.apronstringsblog.com/one-pot-wonder-tomato-basil-pasta-recipe/. 

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Ingredients:

• 12 ounces whole-grain linguine pasta (I prefer brown rice pasta; Trader Joe’s has a brown rice linguine)
  
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes with liquid ( I used zesty red pepper flavor)
  
• 8 oz sliced mushrooms
  
• 1 large sweet onion, cut in julienne strips
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons salsa or hot sauce (optional)
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
  
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  
• 2-4 large sprigs basil, chopped (optional: leave the leaves whole – they’re a little chewy and full of flavor!)
  
• 4 1/2 cups vegetable broth (regular broth and NOT low sodium)
  
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  
• Salt to taste (~1/2 tsp)

Instructions:

1. Place pasta, tomatoes, mushrooms, onion, garlic, basil, in a large stock pot
   
2. Pour in vegetable broth
   
3. Add salsa or hot sauce, oregano, and thyme
4. Drizzle top with oil
   
5. Cover pot and bring to a boil
6. Reduce to a low simmer
7. Keep covered and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so
8. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated or reduce as desired
9. Season to taste with salt and pepper, stirring the pasta several times to distribute the liquid in the bottom of the pot
10. It's ready to serve!
    

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