NTE Protector Pasta
The NTE (Not the Enterprise) Protector was the ship in Galaxy Quest. The aliens, called Thermians, built the ship after watching episodes (historical documents) broadcast from the planet Earth. They had nothing to go on but what they could see — they had no blue prints or specifications.
This dish came from a similar experience where I received a cookwares catalog with a picture of a pan filled with what looked like pasta and meatballs. I couldn’t find the recipe, so I guessed at the ingredients. And, like the NTE Protector, it worked like a champ!
Ingredients
Step 1 Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 3 Leeks
Step 2 Ingredients
- 1 package Sliced white mushrooms
- 1 package Frozen meat balls 1-2 oz meat balls (not the small ones); Angus.
- 1 cup White wine
- 1 12 oz Can Canned fire-roasted tomatos
- 1-2 medium Tomatoes (use ripe tomatoes to add a fresh touch to this dish)
- 1 tbsp Lawry’s garlic salt (you can substitute 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp dried parsley)
Step 3 Ingredients
- 1 package Spaghetti
- Reserved green leek rings
Step 4 Ingredients
- 2 cups Any hard cheese Gouda, Parmesan, or any hard cheese, grated
Instructions
- Prepare leeks by cutting off the root and the tops of the greens. Keep about 2” of green above the white part. I like to cut rings about 1/4” wide, because it makes a great presentation. Separate the white from the green and wash them independently to make sure and get all the dirt out of them. Reserve the green parts for later.
- In a large pan or skillet (12”), heat olive oil and sauté the leeks.
- Add the mushrooms, and continue sautéing. Add frozen meatballs and continue sautéing. Add white wine and then add canned tomatoes and rough-cut tomatoes. Add the Lawry’s garlic salt now.
- Boil the pasta until it is just al dente (it will continue to cook in the mixture), drain and add to the skillet. Add the green leek rings. Stir well, keeping all the ingredients working together. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes (usually just enough time for you to complete the next step).
- Grate hard cheese and sprinkle over the pasta just before serving.
Notes
What you might want to get to make this recipe:
