Makes: 4 servings

Spice up your weeknight dinner plans with this Red Hot Fusilli. Loaded with juicy tomatoes, this dish is wonderful with or without the optional chicken!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1/4 cup parsley (fresh minced)
• 4 cups ripe tomatoes (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped or 1 tsp dried basil)
• 1 tablespoon oregano leaves (crushed or 1 tsp dried oregano)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ground red pepper (or cayenne, to taste)
• 8 ounces fusilli pasta (uncooked, 4 cups cooked)
• cooked chicken breast (1/2 pound diced into 1/2-inch pieces, optional)

Directions

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté garlic and parsley until golden.
2. Add tomatoes and spices. Cook uncovered over low heat 15 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. If desired, add chicken and continue cooking for 15 minutes until chicken is heated through and sauce is thick.
3. Cook pasta firm in unsalted water.
4. To serve, spoon sauce over pasta and sprinkle with coarsely chopped parsley. Serve hot as a main dish and cold for the next day's lunch.

*Cost estimate and nutritional analysis does not include chicken.

Notes

If pre-cooked chicken is not available, cook ¾ lb raw chicken and chop into ½-inch pieces when cooled down.

Source: Stay Young at Heart: Cooking the Heart-Healthy Way, US Department of Health and Human Services, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 cup