This delicious, gluten-free sundried tomato and garlic pasta is perfect for a speedy weeknight dinner

Are you looking for a quick and easy pasta recipe that’s both gluten-free and dairy-free? Then you’ve come to the right place!

This delicious sundried tomato and garlic pasta recipe I’m sharing takes little time to prep and cook, requires only a few simple ingredients, and contains no gluten or dairy. It’s all vegan-friendly!

Plus, this pasta is a great way to get your fibre and protein in for a super-speedy lunch or dinner! Be sure to try it out this winter – it’s the perfect guilt-free comfort food.

Enjoy!

Gluten-free sundried tomato and garlic pasta recipe

Serves: 4-5

You’ll need:

• 350 g gluten-free pasta of choice
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 650 g fresh baby spinach, shredded
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup plain hummus
• 1/4 tbsp sea salt
• 1/4 freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tbsp whole almonds
• 10 sundried tomatoes, finely diced

What to do:

1. Cook your pasta according to the directions on the packaging. Drain the pasta, then place it back into the empty pot.
2. Add the garlic and olive oil to the pot and cook for two to three minutes.
3. Add in the spinach, sea salt and black pepper, and cook for a further two to three minutes or until the spinach is wilted.
4. Remove the pot from the heat and mix in the hummus and sundried tomatoes.
5. Transfer to pasta to a large serving bowl and top with almonds.

If you try out this tasty recipe, be sure to let me know your thoughts!

Lunch in the sunshine at Eight Restaurant at Spier

How divine is Spier Wine Farm? It’s such a fab spot for an outing or just a picnic. It’s one of my favourite wine farms in Cape Town, so I’ve been many times. But it wasn’t up until recently that I visited their lovely eatery, Eight Restaurant.

Eight is a quiet, comfortable space with feng shui touches. The restaurant sources their vegetables and chicken from the wine farm itself and nearby farmers. Their whole philosophy is orientated towards fresh, local and organic ingredients, which is totally my vibe!

This extract from their website explains it in more detail: “Eight is a pioneering farm-to-table eating experience. Like its name, the restaurant is an expression of balance, cycles, harmony, infinity and abundance.” Needless to say, I was very excited to have lunch at this delightful spot.

 

 

 

 

I took a seat at a table outside under the trees. All of the décor is natural and simple, which gives it a relaxed feel. It was a Friday afternoon and was lovely and peaceful. I was in fact pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was. I think most people head to Moyo or take advantage of the Eight to Go Deli when they visit Spier. Eight is tucked away around the corner, so if you’re not looking for it, you could very easily miss it.

The menu is a blackboard, which allows the restaurant to change it each day to fit the fresh and flavourful ingredients that they have available. On the day of my visit, they had a number of drool-worthy dishes on offer. Two soups, two salads, three mains and three desserts was the tally if my memory serves.

To start, I ordered their smoothie of the day, which was a blend of plain yoghurt and mixed berries. It arrived quickly and it was thick, creamy and delicious! Then, for starters, I ordered the Fresh Farmed Vegetable Soup, made with garden veggies and olive oil. It was fresh and filling. I really enjoyed it!

 

 

 

 

For my main meal, I decided on the Creamy Mushroom Pasta – because you can never go wrong with a creamy pasta, right? Tossed with cream, spring onion and toasted almonds, it was just luxurious! For dessert, it was a tough decision between the Vanilla Panna Cotta with Poached Fruit and the 70% Cocoa Brownie, but I ended up going for the brownie, which was scrumptious. The peppermint ice-cream that was served with it was just heavenly.

I must also add that the presentation of each dish I ordered was charming, and showed flair without being either too fussy or too plain and rustic. What added to my pleasant dining experience at Eight was the friendly service.

Overall, I really like Eight’s philosophy and had a fantastic meal there. You can bet that I’ll be back! It’s a gorgeous place for a lunch outside in the sunshine. Eight is open for tea, brunch and lunch – be sure to pop in this summer!

 

 

 

 

DETAILS:

Address: Spier Wine Farm, R310 Baden Powell Road, Stellenbosch

Phone number: 021 809 1188

Website: www.spier.co.za/food/eight-restaurant