Hi.
I really enjoy pasta but am unfortunatley allergic to tomatoes (mouth ulcers galore ) I'm getting sick of the mushroom & carbonara sauces - does anyone have anything more inventive to try? Every time i search for a new recipe, there's always tomatoes - any suggestions about what to substitute?

I love cheese, but a pure cheese sauce with pasta is sickly.

Please help, thanks

I know how you feel I am also allergic to tomatoes, I make a spag bol sauce just for me using bovril cubes, worcester sauce, dried herbs, mushrooms and mince and a bit of cornflour to thicken at the last minute, usually make it the day before to let the flavours taste. I use this for shephard pie too.

you can buy packet mixes for chicken and leek bake i eat this with pasta, lasange (just don't add tomatoes to it add worcester sauce like I do) this mix also can be used for shephards pie, and a few others if you have the time to read the ingrediants (i always have to). what about a tuna and pasta bake.
Hope that helps a bit.

How about pesto sauce or white wine with garlic and olive oil, or roasted vegetables cooked with olive oil

Oooh there are lots, how about carbonara or simply with chilli, garlic, oil & cheese. Spaghetti with cockles (clams) is nice, or broccoli with cheese. I like pasta iwth blue cheese & mange tout. How about with smoked salmon & a dash of cream, or with strips of grilled aubergine, courgette & red pepper. I also have a problem with tomatoes, i get really sore throats if I eat them uncooked.

you can try these to sites they should help you find something you like

[link]

www.barilla.com

Happy searching

Try this one from the Delia Smith site..Trofie Pasta Liguria..Pasta with pesto, potatoes, green beans. It is my complete favourite and not a tomato in sight. I vary this quite a lot with different vegetables, fresh peas or asparagus for example . It is actually a very simple mix of pasta, green pesto Anya potatoes but I have used small new or salad ones, and the veg. really delicious.

There are so many - I'm surprised by how many there are!! Thanks all, i will try these along the way - i especially will try the chilli, garlic, oil and cheese and the recipe for the lasagne/spag bol/shepherds pie - it's so inventive, but sounds great!

Thanks

We do a recipe using tagliatelle, lemon zest and juice and grated parmesan all mixed together with some black pepper for seasoning and often serve it with chicken or fish.

The proper receipe was taken from a Delicious or Sainsbury's magazine a few months ago so can't post it unfortunately but the ingredients are basic and we generally just do it to taste rather than follow the recipe religiously.

An easy carbonara sauce (not sure if it's how you do it 'properly' but it's what my mum always used to make!) - fry some chopped bacon (can also include chopped onion and sliced mushrooms if you like), beat a couple of eggs with some cream, cooked the pasta and drain then return to the pan with the bacon and egg mixture, add in some grated parmesan and seasoning and mix together. The egg should cook slightly with the heat from the pasta (but not so that it is like scrambled eggs!) but if it doesn't cook to your liking you can always put a low heat back on.

I have also seen recipes using 'spring' vegetables and cream, such as peas, broad beans, asparagus.

You could do a roasted vegetable lasagne and leave out the toms. Roast aubergine, courgette, mushrooms, onion, etc and layer with cooked dried lasagne sheets (as there is not enough sauce it won't cooked as well if used uncooked), or fresh lasagne, with a white bechamel sauce. Finish the top wth bechamel sauce, grated parmesan and breadcrumbs. This way of doing lasagne is also quicker because you only really need to brown the top and make sure it is heated through as everything is already pre-cooked.

Helen

Do you like pizza's but feel you are missing out, I make my own using a pre made base and top with some mushroom sauce cheese and pepperoni and cook yummy. I know its not pasta but its an idea.

I love penne pasta with blue cheese melted all over it and walnuts and parmesan shavings sprinkled all over it - yummy

oh cream tea that sounds lovely i will have to try that for lunch tomorrow

The sauce for this recipe is a tin of rich creamy coconut milk.Heat some olive oil, add sliced mushrooms,courgettes onions,cook till soft,add ground cumin,corriander dried chilli flakes,turmeric or whatever spices you like,cook for a couple of minutes then add the tin of coconut milk and heat.Add some just cooked pasta to the pan.If you use 1 can of coconut milk and enough pasta for 2 there is plenty of sauce, fresh crusty bread is essential.If you prefer other vegetables, spices,garlic or herbs then use them.

I know Georgio Locatelli's daughter is allergic to tomatoes, so he devised a recipe for her.

If you call his restuarant (the one at the Churchill htl, London) and ask for the recipe for his 'no tomato, tomato sauce' they are really good and will probably get it for you.

Lisa

For something different, I like to use squash puree as a base for some pasta sauces. It really adds good, distinctive flavor. I use it for non-tube pastas, as it seems to work better for me with those.

I'm happy my local supermarket has started carrying non-wheat pastas. The corn, brown rice and spelt pastas I've tried I have really liked!

Thanks every-one for all these inspiring ideas! I think i'll try and look for the no tomato, tomato sauce recipe - sounds very intriguing! The penne with blue cheese sounds delicious - i'm with you Rachel6 - i'm going to try and impress the in-laws with that one!!

For a 'posh' pasta how about this...(it is enough to serve 4 peeps)...1/4 bottle brandy, equal measure of double cream, heat both separately but do not boil. Mix together and add smoked salmon (I use 'bits')and parsley or coriander. Mix into spagetti and top with crumbled fetta.

Sounds a lot of brandy, but it really works and is scrummy. Even better, those you give it too think you've slaved for hours!

You could try linguini and clams with white wine, stock and cream. Delicious and easy or Linguini with steaky bacon, garlic, olive oil, shallotts, white wine, cream. You could also have the above with chicken.