Burst Tomato & Basil Pasta, Peruvian Lomo Saltado: Here’s What to Cook This Week

Project 365, Day 220/365

It’s been a minute since I’ve done a “What to Cook This Week” post. My meals had been pretty stagnant lately, but today, as I was sweeping and vacuuming, I got hit by a craving. “Lomo saltado! I’m going to make that tomorrow.” If you don’t know, lomo saltado is a Peruvian stir fry dish that fuses Latin American and Chinese flavors. There’s a large Chinese population in Peru (in fact, one of my childhood friends is of Chinese descent, born in Peru, who speaks fluent Spanish). Anyhow, it’s a fantastic dish that brings together a savory, umami-filled beef stir fry of beef, tomatoes, onions, served over white rice and French fries. Rice and fries? Yup…it works. The stir fry creates this fantastic gravy that just moistens everything and it’s comfort food to the max.

My best friend is Peruvian, and she would make this all the time when we lived together many years back. I picked up my phone soon after my craving hit and tapped out a text: “I’m making lomo saltado tomorrow. What do I do again?” Said friend isn’t one for vegetables, so she leaves out the tomatoes, so I make amendments to her recipe. For the sake of today’s post, I found a similar recipe to share with you. The whole thing is made even better with a fresh, punchy aji verde sauce. I can’t wait for dinner.

Anyhow, here’s what I’m making this week, in case you need some new ideas:

Lomo Saltado via Serious Eats

The photo on the top of this post showcases everything separately, but the real way to eat this is altogether in a bowl…at least that’s how I do it. This isn’t exactly a light meal, what with the double carb portion, but it’s a worthwhile feast, especially when slathered in aji verde.

Chicken Francese via Skinnytaste

Thank goodness for thin chicken cutlets that cook in literal minutes. This meal comes together so, so fast, which is why it’s a weeknight go-to. I like to add capers to give it more of a piccata vibe but you certainly don’t have to. If you need something a little extra here, may I suggest roasted fingerling potatoes?

Pasta With 15-Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce via Epicurious

I may end up with one regret this summer: not eating enough tomatoes. But I’m trying to turn this around in this final stretch of the season. Burst cherry tomatoes are some of my favorite things, so this super simple meal is one I’m very much looking forward to. Make it with your favorite pasta (I might go with Banza since I’m tip-toeing my way around gluten) and add plenty of parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Buffalo Chicken Wrap via Tastes Better From Scratch

I certainly don’t really need a recipe for a buffalo chicken wrap, but need something to share here. This was born from another craving today (can you tell I’ve been “deprived” lately?). Buffalo chicken is one of my favorite flavors, and it’s just such a simple dinner and lunch offering on a hot summer day. Easy peasy. A bowl of fresh cherries on the side, and I’m a happy camper.

Easy Overnight Oats via Downshiftlogy

We’ve been getting beautiful strawberries from the nearby farmer’s market, so I’m going to put some to work this week in chia-seed laden overnight oats. Hearty yet refreshing, overnight oats always satisfy me this time of year. I make them deep into the fall where I switch up some ingredients to be a little warmer and fuzzier (read: lots of cinnamon things). They’re super easy to prep ahead of time, are not eggs—I’ve been eating too many lately—and are super flexible depending on the things you want to pop into them. Nut butters? Sure! Cocoa powder? Oh yum. Pitted cherries? Yeah!

As always, drop some of your favorites in the comments. Sharing is caring.

See you tomorrow, FOAS.