Pasta With Savory Sesame Sauce

Pasta With Savory Sesame Sauce
by Sandy Coggins & Fumie Yoshikawa

• 4 Cups Crimini mushrooms - cleaned and cut into bulky slices
• 3 Cups sesame seeds - roasted and milled
• 2-3 Cloves garlic - chopped coarse
• 3 Leek leaves - cut into ¼" diagonal pieces
• 4 Carrots - ribbon cut
• 6 Cups spiral brown rice pasta
• 1 Bunch scallions - Marvin cut (thin diagonal slices)
• Ume vinegar
• Toasted sesame oil
• Basil - fresh, chopped fine

1. Cook rice pasta (al dente), rinse in cold water and set aside
2. Sauté garlic
3. Add Crimini mushrooms and sauté a few minutes
4. Add carrots and sauté a few minutes
5. Add leeks and sauté a few minutes (You want the veggies to still be crisp and colorful – a little al dente.)
6. Add milled sesame seeds
7. Add pasta and stir, and heat for 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated
8. Add ume vinegar to taste – you can add some soy sauce if you like
9. Add scallions and stir, and heat another few minutes
10. Add Fresh Basil
11. Remove from flame and place in serving dish
12. May need to add a little liquid – vegetable stock or dashi is good