Massa do tio Lito (uncle Lito’s pasta)

My family (apart from my other half and child) is not vegan. But sometimes I’m surprised by things like this: my uncle Lito has two staple main dishes that he cooks often that are vegan! Last time we visit them in Geneva he cooked this for us and is delicious. His was extra special because he used a special tomato sauce made by my aunt Fatima. Special sauce or not, is worth a try because it’s great!

type: main dish

time: 20 minutes

difficulty: 1 pan

serves: 2-3

What you need:

1 small onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 bay leaves

3-4 tbsp white wine

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp paprika

1/2 vegetable stock cube

1/2 can chopped tomatoes

1 can chickpeas

250g spaghetti

water

salt and pepper to taste

Utensils:

knife and chopping board

1 large pan

Directions:

Fry the onion, garlic and bay leaves in olive oil for a few minutes till golden;

add chickpeas, paprika and white wine and leave it cooking for a few more minutes till the alcohol evaporates;

Add chopped tomatoes, shredded stock cube and spaghetti (I usually break pasta in half), mix and add boiling water until all ingredients are covered;

Let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes until pasta is cooked; add salt (if using) and pepper to taste;

Serve while hot (don’t forget to take the bay leaves out); goes well with any greens or a salad.