Tofu and Mushroom Pasta Sauce

This is a healthy, vegetarian recipe. It can be prepared quickly and it invites experimentation - you can try it with slightly different ingredients and way of preparing. This version is fairly spicy, so feel free to adjust the amount of hot pepper flakes.

Ingredients:

• One package of firm tofu, cut into small cubes
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 ounces assorted mushrooms, sliced
• 1/3 cup minced onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper flake
• 16 ounces tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons chopped green olives

Directions:

• Drain tofu and cut up into small cubes.
• Fry tofu in olive oil until it starts turning brown.

• Take out tofu with a slotted spoon.

• Add a bit more oil if necessary and fry sliced mushrooms.

• After a few minutes add cut up onions, green pepper, and garlic. Fry until onion starts to brown and get translucent.

• Add tomato sauce and hot pepper flakes.
• Simmer for 20-30 minutes.

• Near the end throw in cut up olives. Here I've pitted green olives and cut them up. You can also use already pitted black olives.
• Separately boil water and add farfalle pasta to the pot. Boil for around 12 minutes so that the past is al dente.

• Serve with a green salad and a glass of wine. Enjoy :-).

Istrian Chicken "Žgvacet" (Stew)

Žgvacet comes from the northwest part of Croatia, a peninsula called Istria, that is next to the Adriatic coast. It is a type of stew similar to goulash, and can be served with pasta, gnocchi or homemade "fuzi" (type of homemade pasta).  It is very simple to make, and is very tasty.  I found this recipe in a recipe book when visiting my family in Croatia.  This is how the recipe goes:

Ingredients:

• 1 package of boneless chicken breasts or chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces (cubed)
• 3 tablespoons of oil (I prefer grapeseed oil)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup of tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon of flour
• 1/2 cup of red wine
• chopped fresh basil (or dry basil) to taste
• Vegeta to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Heat up oil and saute onion until fragrant
• Add cubed chicken breast and garlic and saute for a few minutes
• Add flour and mix well

• Add wine, tomato sauce, basil, Vegeta, salt and pepper and mix well

• Cook until the meat is done (about 30-40 minutes)

• Serve with gnocchi, pasta or homemade "fuzi"

Prijatno!  Enjoy! :)