Rasta Pasta Recipe: A Delicious Jamaican Twist

Rasta Pasta Combines the creamy deliciousness of pasta with all those bold Jamaican flavors! In honor of the Rastafarian culture; a heavy influence that promote natural ingredients and vegetarian diet, this recipe glorifies Jamaican fun fare with some kick ass flavor.

Although typically no meat, for a more robust meal feel free to include jerk seasoned chicken/jerk shrimp/beef. It’s a magic that comes from the creamy consistency of pasta balancing fresh vegetables and authentic jerk seasoning. About to bring a little Jamaica right into your kitchen? Let’s get started!

Ingredients:

• 12 oz penne pasta, cooked (or your favorite pasta) of choice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 2-3 sprigs of thyme ( dry or fresh)
• 1 cup dairy or non-dairy cream of choice (coconut milk is for vegans)
• 1/2 cup Cured Goat Derrick (or Parmesan -for a creamy kick)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• For the Jerk Seasoning:
• 1 tablespoon jerk seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/4tsp cayenne pepper (If you like it hot)
• Soy sauce (or Tamari for gluten-free), 1 tbsp
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon of honey or brown sugar (if you want some sweetness)
• Optional Protein Add-ons:1 lb chicken breast (or shrimp) seasoned with jerk (for non-vegetarian version of the recipe).

Instructions:

• Prepare the Pasta : To begin, bring a large pot of salted water to boil Noodles are also boiled quickly in 10-12 min etching al dente. Drain and set aside.
• How To Saute The Veggies: Add olive oil to a large skillet and warm over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sauté until soft then wonderful. Add the bell peppers and thyme, cooking until slightly tender but still little crunchy around 4-5 minutes.
• Make the Jerk Seasoning: In a small bowl, combine jerk seasoning with paprika, allspice and soy sauce lime juice & honey. Blend all together and form a paste.
• Season the Vegetables: Drizzle them with jerk seasoning and mix well, ensuring that everything is coated evenly. It will bring you straight to the islands with its heavenly scent!
• Feel Free to Add Cream: Pour in heavy cream or coconut milk slowly, stirring the whole time. Add the Parmesan cheese if using- it helps to thicken and gives a rich creamy flavor. Simmer the sauce for a few minutes until it reduces and is thick enough that it coats the back of a spoon.
• Add Pasta: Gently toss properly, cooked pasta until covered in jerk-scented creamy sauce. Well-cover the pasta eight sauce.
• Protein (optional): Grill or pan-sear your protein with additional jerk seasoning—I suggest using chicken, shrimp. Cook, then slice or chop into your pasta.
• Serve: Once the pasta is well coated with the creamy, spicy sauce add salt and pepper to taste. Top with fresh thyme or parsley to add a bit of color.

Tips for Perfect Rasta Pasta:

• The vegan alternative would be to use coconut milk instead of heavy cream and you can disregard the Parmesan.
• Heat control: The cayenne and jerk seasoning are what give this cowboy caveman coffee it’s heat, so add or reduce either to suit your spice level.
• Extra veggies: add some broccoli, spinach or zucchini for additional color and nutrition

Why It’s Called Rasta Pasta

Enter the Rasta, or more accurately a follower of The Rastafari culture which promotes only eating from results found in nature. This meal is vegetarian more often than not, but you can also find other versions with jerk chicken or shrimp. Additionally, the colors of red (bell pepper), yellow(egg) and green(bell-pepper) reflect Rastafarian flag, making it symbolic with each bite.

Final Thoughts:

This is classic Italian Jamaican fusion at its best, and the dish was a wonderful breakout of sequence. It is creamy, hot and these beautiful colors will brighten any dinner table. This can be made vegetarian or adding some proteins and tastes amazing anyway.

you can also try white cheese sauce pasta recipe its delicious and all time favorite.