The dish is a colorful mix of thin, al-dente noodles mixed with rich tomato sauce, bites of green and yellow bell peppers, topped with a sprinkle of queso fresco and fresh cilantro.

Mexican-Inspired Winter Pasta

Name: Mexican-Inspired Winter Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 6 ounces dried spaghetti noodles; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 yellow onion finely diced; 2 garlic cloves finely chopped; 1 green bell pepper sliced into thin strips; 1 yellow bell pepper sliced into thin strips; 1 large tomato diced; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; to taste salt; to taste freshly ground pepper; for serving queso fresco cheese crumbled; for serving cilantro chopped

Seasonal vegetables and Mexican flavors in a pasta dish.

Category Main Course

Prep 10 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style Mexican

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily recipe · January 02, 2023

A little about this dish

This Mexican-inspired pasta recipe makes the most of seasonal vegetables to bring bold flavors and colors to your plate. Inspired by traditional Mexican ingredients, this pasta dish adds a modern twist to a classic Italian dish, perfect for a cold January evening.

Ingredients (for 2)

Dried spaghetti noodles — 6 ounces
Olive oil — 1 tablespoon
Yellow onion — 1/2 — finely diced
Garlic cloves — 2 — finely chopped
Green bell pepper — 1 — sliced into thin strips
Yellow bell pepper — 1 — sliced into thin strips
Large tomato — 1 — diced
Tomato paste — 1 tablespoon
Cumin — 1 teaspoon
Smoked paprika — 1 teaspoon
Salt — to taste
Freshly ground pepper — to taste
Queso fresco cheese — for serving — crumbled
Cilantro — for serving — chopped

Preparation

Step 1 — 🍝🕰️💦

Cook the spaghetti noodles in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente.
Step 2 — 🔥🧅🧄

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 3 — 🔥🌶️👀

Add bell peppers to the skillet and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Step 4 — 🍅🥄🌶️🧂

Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, stirring until combined.
Step 5 — 🍅🥄🔥

Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Step 6 — 🍝🥄🍅

Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet and toss with the sauce until all noodles are coated in sauce.
Step 7 — 🍝🥄🧀🌿🔥

Divide pasta into two bowls and top with crumbled queso fresco and chopped cilantro. Serve hot.

A final fox tip

For a gluten-free option, swap out the spaghetti noodles for a gluten-free pasta alternative. A squeeze of fresh lime juice on top of the finished dish can add a bit of brightness to the flavors. You can also add some roasted corn or avocado for extra creaminess.