Bean Pasta and Vegetables with Thai Coconut Sauce

Bean pastas are a great alternative way to get your daily serving of beans. In this flavor-packed dish, bean pasta and Asian vegetables are combined with a sauce made with coconut, lemon grass and ginger.

Ingredients

2 cups water
1 3/4 cups unsweetened shredded coconut, divided
4 (4 inch) stalks lemon grass, broken up in small pieces
peel of one organic lime, with pith removed
1 inch piece ginger, peeled and minced
6 regular or 3 medjool dates, pitted
1/2 tablespoon lime juice
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
2 tablespoons water or white wine
2 cloves garlic
3 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup carrots, sliced in 1/4 inch pieces
8 ounces baby corn ears
3 cups sliced bok choy
10 ounces mushrooms, sliced
8 ounces bean pasta
1/4 cup raw macadamia nuts, raw cashews or raw Spanish peanuts, lightly toasted (see note)

Instructions:

Add water and 1 cup of the shredded coconut to a high-powered blender and blend on high until creamy. Place blended coconut mixture, lemon grass, lime peel, and ginger in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover and let steep for 30 minutes. Mash lemon grass, lime peel and ginger into mixture with a wooden spoon. Pour through a fine mesh strainer to remove fibers. Add strained liquid to a high-powered blender along with remaining shredded coconut, dates, lime juice and cayenne pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

In a large wok or skillet, heat water or white wine, add garlic, broccoli, carrots and baby corn, cover and cook for 3 minutes, adding more water as needed. Add mushrooms and bok choy and continue to cook until vegetables start to soften, about 4 minutes. Add coconut sauce, cover and cook for 2-3 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender.

Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions.

Serve pasta topped with vegetables and sauce. Sprinkle with lightly toasted nuts.

Note: Nuts can be toasted in a toaster oven. Spread on a flat pan and toast for a few minutes on medium setting until lightly browned.