Tex-Mex Orecchiette Pasta

Orecchiette pasta is a traditional Italian pasta shape that resembles small ears, hence the name ‘orecchiette’ which means ‘little ears’ in Italian.

This is vegetarian and high protein recipe. Dish can be prepared in 40 minutes. Recipe requires some culinary experience (medium difficulty). Number of ingredients: 16.

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Medium

Tex-Mex Orecchiette Pasta

Cooking Method: Boiling, Sauteeing Cuisine: Italian, Mexican Courses: Dinner, Pasta, Tex-Mex Recipe Keys: High Protein Vegetarian

Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 20 min Rest Time 5 min Total Time 40 mins

Servings: 4 Calories: 1800

Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

Servings

• 8 ounce Orecchiette Pasta
• 1 cup Black Beans
• 1 cup Corn Kernels
• 1 cup Red Bell Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Jalapeno Pepper
• ¹⁄₂ cup Red Onion
• 2 clove Garlic
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 cup Tomato Sauce
• ¹⁄₂ cup Cheddar Cheese
• 2 tablespoon Fresh Cilantro
• 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon Salt
• ¹⁄₄ teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

1. Cook the orecchiette pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat some oil over medium heat. Add the red onion, garlic, red bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper. Cook until the vegetables are softened.
3. Add the ground cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper to the skillet. Stir well to coat the vegetables in the spices.
4. Add the black beans, corn kernels, and tomato sauce to the skillet. Cook for a few minutes until heated through.
5. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to combine. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and stir in the cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, lime juice, salt, and black pepper.
7. Let the pasta rest for 5 minutes before serving.
8. Serve hot and garnish with additional cilantro and lime wedges, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 450kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 12g19%

Total Carbohydrate 70g24%

Sugars 4g

Protein 15g30%

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* The Percentage Daily Values are calculated from a 2,000 calorie diet. Your specific daily value may vary, depending on your individual calorie requirements.