Spicy Tunisian Vegetable Pasta (Makarouna Jerya)

Thermomix recipe: Spicy Tunisian Vegetable Pasta (Makarouna Jerya). Ready in 50 minutes. Serves 4. Step-by-step Thermomix instructions on Chef Amai.

Ingredients

• 1 large onion (approx. 150 g), quartered
• 3 cloves garlic (approx. 15 g)
• 1-2 fresh red chillies (or 1-2 tbsp harissa paste), deseeded if preferred
• 40 g olive oil
• 80 g tomato paste
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground caraway
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
• ¼ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
• 400 g canned diced tomatoes
• 500 g vegetable stock
• 1 large carrot (approx. 100 g), peeled and diced
• 1 red bell pepper (approx. 150 g), deseeded and diced
• 1 zucchini (approx. 150 g), diced
• 200 g canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 250 g small pasta (e.g., orzo, ditalini, small macaroni - 'fell' pasta)
• Fresh parsley or coriander, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

1. Add onion, garlic, and fresh chillies (or harissa paste) to the mixing bowl. Chop 5 sec / Speed 5. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with the spatula.
2. Add olive oil. Sauté 5 min / 120°C / Speed 1.
3. Add tomato paste, ground coriander, ground caraway, sweet paprika, salt, and pepper. Sauté 3 min / 120°C / Speed 1. This step helps to deepen the flavour of the tomato paste.
4. Add diced tomatoes, vegetable stock, diced carrot, diced red bell pepper, diced zucchini, and rinsed chickpeas to the mixing bowl. Insert the simmering basket onto the mixing bowl lid instead of the measuring cup to allow for evaporation and prevent splatter. Cook 15 min / 100°C / Reverse / Speed 1.
5. Pause and carefully remove the simmering basket. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl with the spatula to ensure even cooking. Check the consistency and add a splash more stock if it seems too thick. Replace the simmering basket.
6. Add the small pasta to the mixing bowl. Cook for the time specified on your pasta package (usually 8-12 minutes) / 98°C / Reverse / Speed 2. Ensure the liquid covers the pasta; if not, add a little more hot stock.
7. Once cooking is complete, check the pasta for doneness. If needed, cook for an additional 1-2 minutes / 98°C / Reverse / Speed 2. Then, to settle and prevent sticking, cook 1 min / 90°C / Reverse / Speed 1.
8. Transfer the 'Makarouna Jerya' to serving bowls. Garnish generously with fresh chopped parsley or coriander. Serve immediately.

View this recipe on Chef Amai — convert any recipe to Thermomix format at chefamai.com.