A Family Favorite: Spaghetti with Sun-Dried Tomato and Watercress
This simple and delicious pasta dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a light lunch. It’s packed with flavor from the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and red pepper flakes, and the fresh watercress adds a touch of green and a bit of pep.
Making meals during the week doesn’t have to be hard or time-consuming. With a well-stocked pantry and refrigerator, you can create quick and healthy meals on any weeknight.
One of my favorite quick and easy meals is pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and vegetables. Sun-dried tomatoes have a long shelf life and add a burst of flavor to any dish. They’re also great in salads and sandwiches.
Here’s a simple recipe for spaghetti with sun-dried tomato and watercress:
Ingredients:
- Spaghetti Noodles: choose regular spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine. Thin spaghetti is not a great option because of the size of the noodles. The mixture may be a bit mushy.
- Olive oil: for moisture
- Garlic: It is best to use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder. The garlic releases an aromatic juice that will flavor the olive oil.
- Scotch Bonnet Pepper or NouBess hot and spicy sauce
- Sun-dried tomatoes: It is best to slice the tomatoes thin so they mix well with the pasta.
- Fresh Parsley adds a nice earthy and fresh flavor.
- Watercress: sightly pungent, a bit spicy, and crunchy, the perfect substitute for arugula.
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and NouBess hot and spicy sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the garlic is fragrant.
- Drain the spaghetti and add it to the skillet with the sun-dried tomato. Toss to combine and cook for 1-2 minutes or until the spaghetti is heated through.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and watercress—season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
This spaghetti with sun-dried tomato and watercress recipe is just a starting point. You can add other vegetables to the pasta, such as spinach, kale, or mushrooms. You can also use different types of cheese, such as goat cheese or feta. And if you want a richer flavor, you can add a splash of white wine or chicken broth to the skillet with the sun-dried tomato sauce.
No matter how you make it, this spaghetti dish is a delicious and easy way to get a healthy meal on the table in no time.
Notes and Tips for spaghetti with sun-dried tomato and watercress:
- For a richer flavor, you can add a splash of white wine or chicken broth to the skillet with the sun-dried tomato sauce.
- If you don’t have watercress, you can substitute another leafy green herb, such as basil or parsley.
- A good substitute is arugula.
- For a vegan version of this recipe, use vegan Parmesan cheese and omit the watercress.
Variations:
- Add a handful of chopped spinach or kale to the skillet with the sun-dried tomato sauce.
- Add a sprinkle of goat cheese or feta cheese to the finished pasta dish.
- Serve with a side of crusty bread for dipping in the sauce.
There are many reasons to make this recipe.
- Why this recipe is a great quick and easy weeknight meal: This recipe is simple to make and only requires a few ingredients, making it perfect for a busy weeknight. It’s also healthy and delicious, so you can feel good about serving it to your family and friends.
- How to make this recipe your own: This recipe is just a starting point. You can add other vegetables to the pasta, such as spinach, kale, or mushrooms. You can also use different types of cheese, such as goat cheese or feta. And if you want a richer flavor, you can add a splash of white wine or chicken broth to the skillet with the sun-dried tomato sauce.
- Tips for cooking spaghetti perfectly: Follow the package directions carefully to ensure your spaghetti is cooked perfectly. Don’t overcook the pasta, or it will become mushy.
- How to serve spaghetti with sun-dried tomato and watercress: This spaghetti dish can be served on its own, or with a side salad or crusty bread. You can also top it with grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled goat cheese.
- Nutritional information: Spaghetti with sun-dried tomato and watercress is a healthy meal that is packed with nutrients. It is a good source of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins.
Watercress is a leafy green vegetable that is a close cousin to mustard greens, cabbage, and arugula. It has a slightly peppery taste and can be used in salads, soups, legumes, and even juices.
My Spaghetti with Sun-Dried Tomato and Watercress begins with fresh garlic and thinly sliced hot pepper cooked in olive oil. The hot pepper adds a pleasant aroma and bold flavor to the dish, but it is not peppery hot because only a small amount is needed.
NouBess Hot and Spicy Sauce: for flavor, NouBess Hot and Spicy Sauce is made with a blend of chili peppers and other spices that will add a delicious and unique flavor to your dish. It is spicy, but it will give your spaghetti a nice kick; Add a little bit at a time.
Sun-dried tomatoes and parsley are added for their earthy and healthy flavors. The pasta is combined with all of these ingredients to create a refreshing and delicious dish.
Finally, the watercress is added for its fresh and slightly crunchy taste. It is cooked slightly to release its flavor and complete the dish.
Add a little bit of salt and black pepper, and you have a complete meal for any night you want a quick and easy dinner. Feel free to add your preferred cheese or substitute the sun-dried tomatoes for fresh tomatoes.
Here are some additional tips and suggestions:
- For a richer flavor, you can add a splash of white wine or chicken broth to the skillet with the sun-dried tomato sauce.
- You can also add other vegetables to the pasta, such as spinach, kale, or mushrooms.
- Serve the spaghetti with a side salad or crusty bread.
- Top the spaghetti with grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled goat cheese.
I first made this recipe for spaghetti with sun-dried tomato and watercress because I ran out of arugula. Now, arugula is usually added to pasta as you don’t see too many recipes with watercress.
Watercress is usually added to salad, stews, and soup in the Caribbean. It was completely normal for me to add it to pasta. Over time, I’ve made a few adaptations to suit my own taste preferences. For example, I now add more garlic and NouBess hot and spicy for a bit of extra heat. I also like adding a spinach or kale mixture to the pasta for some extra nutrients.
This recipe has become a staple in my household because it’s quick, easy, and delicious. It’s also a great way for my family to eat vegetables.
I hope that you and your family enjoy this recipe as much as we do. Get cooking and enjoy this beautiful and delicious recipe with or without meat.
Spaghetti with sun-dried tomato and watercress
Ingredients
- 1 pound of spaghetti
- 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 4-6 garlic cloves chopped
- ¼ teaspoon scotch bonnet pepper or NouBess Hot and Spicy Sauce
- 1 cups of sun-dried tomatoes sliced thin
- ½ cup parsley chopped
- 16 oz bag of watercress or a bunch
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until it is al dente, stirring frequently, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
- Add olive oil in a large pan. Add garlic, hot pepper and cook for about 1 minute on low heat. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and parsley and continue to cook for about 1 minute until tomatoes have re-hydrated.
- Toss the hot pasta in the pan to mix with the ingredients. Add the reserved liquid as needed to keep the moisture.
- Add the watercress and toss to combine for 30 seconds to 1 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately serve with your preferred grated cheese.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can add a splash of white wine or chicken broth to the skillet with the sun-dried tomato sauce.
- If you don’t have watercress, you can substitute another leafy green herb, such as basil or parsley.
- A good substitute is arugula.
- For a vegan version of this recipe, use vegan Parmesan cheese and omit the watercress.
Nutrition
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.
Corn Allergy:
Always choose ingredients without corn or corn derivatives.
Originally posted on July 17, 2017. Revised and updated.
