The chefs at Namaste take their Mexican food seriously; this is one spicy pasta mix!  The zesty taco flavor is turned up a notch (or two) with a powerful cayenne pepper kick.  Our heat loving taste-tester enjoyed this dish as is.  For myself, it was good, but a touch too spicy.  The bright red-orange hue should have been my first clue that this dish may have too much heat for my sensitive taste buds. 

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the creative combination of traditional taco seasonings and pasta.  It is an excellent backdrop for mix-ins such as black beans, chicken, tomatoes, firm chopped avocado, or olives.  As usual, I loved the simple preparation of Namaste’s pastas.  Though it called for just 3 Tablespoons of oil, I opted try a bit of dairy free butter alternative for a portion of the oil.  The resulting texture and flavor was still good, and a bit less greasy than using the oil alone.  However, with this pasta, I think my next trial would involve adding a small can of tomato sauce.  Just an idea to cool the heat and make an even lower fat meal. 

Spicy, healthy, allergen free, and versatile this side dish with meal potential is definitely a good find for Mexican food fans.  A couple of extra tips for when you buy this dish – make sure you drain the shells well (water can get trapped in them easily); and don’t toss the packaging, it makes a great re-sealable lunch bag!

• Pros: Vegan; Free of gluten, wheat, potato, nuts, soy, corn, eggs, and of course dairy; Full of disease fighting spices; Easy preparation; Environmentally friendly packaging; Kosher certified
• Cons:  It may be just a touch greasy when prepared purely with oil; Very spicy, good for some, but possibly too much for others

Recommended For:

• Spicy Food Lovers
• A Quick Meal or Side Dish
• A New Twist on Mexican Dinner Nights

Where to Buy:

• Online:  Direct from www.NamasteFoods.com
• In Stores:  U.S. & Canada

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