Pasta Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my pasta more interesting? ›

Meats like pancetta, kielbasa, and bacon add a lot of flavor to pasta dishes, too. Cured meats like pancetta or bacon last longer in your fridge than fresh meats and make a great addition to most pasta dishes, from classic spaghetti to carbonara, penne alla vodka, and even seafood-based dishes.

Adding a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese with the butter is a good way to make an instant creamy sauce without making it watery. Toss some peas, red pepper flakes, and a lemon squeeze and you've got a lovely dish with zero extra cooking. Everything just gets tossed with the hot noodles.

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

It's not just about cheese. Garnish your pasta with a grating of lemon zest, some crunchy breadcrumbs or even a crumble of crispy bacon to add texture and taste. Herb it up. Experiment with lots of fresh herbs in your pasta dishes.

Add 1 stick of unsalted butter to cooked pasta; toss well to coat. Mix in 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with more grated cheese and minced flat-leaf parsley.

Spice Up Pasta FAQ

Classic spices to add to a plain tomato sauce include Italian seasoning, garlic (fresh or powder), onion powder, basil, salt and pepper. You can also add a little bit of chili or cayenne powder for some heat.

Plain butter and grated cheese and cracked pepper if you aren't using pecorino cheese with some chopped herbs is always a quick fix when you have no red spaghetti sauce . Another is to throw some cream and butter into a frying pan . Warm melt and stir in butter and garlic.

Vegetables — The type of veggies are up to you, but we love zucchini, yellow squash, jarred roasted red peppers, leafy greens, peas, corn, and cabbage. Options are endless, here.

Herbs and Spices: Add a variety of herbs and spices to enhance flavor. Common choices include basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. Fresh herbs can bring a burst of freshness to the sauce. Tomato Paste: Stir in a tablespoon or two of tomato.

What can I put on pasta instead of butter? ›

You can easily substitute olive oil for butter in most pasta recipes, especially ones that have lots of fresh vegetables. Choose recipes that are lightly dressed and avoid pastas with rich cream sauces (which require butter).

To be sure that your pasta is cooked correctly, it is enough to follow a few, simple rules. To begin with, you should keep in mind the right quantities. In Italy, the golden rule for cooking pasta is 1, 10, 100 or 1 liter of water, 10 grams of salt for every 100 grams of pasta.

This is the time to add a final hit of black pepper, grated cheese and a splash of acidity – red or white wine vinegar or lemon juice to brighten up the flavour. I often stir some chopped basil, parsley, rocket (arugula) or watercress through once the pan is off the heat.

The more egg white, the more pliable the dough; the more yolk, the richer the pasta will be. There are endless variations, but for a dough that works every time use: 1 whole egg plus 2 yolks for every 150g of flour.

Herbs and Spices: Add a variety of herbs and spices to enhance flavor. Common choices include basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. Fresh herbs can bring a burst of freshness to the sauce. Tomato Paste: Stir in a tablespoon or two of tomato.

Basil, oregano, chives, thyme, and parsley all add a burst of fresh flavour and aroma to your dish. Chop them up finely and sprinkle them over the top of your pasta just before serving.

Add a dash of red pepper flakes for a kick of heat, a teaspoon of Italian seasoning for flavor, or a sprinkle of fragrant fresh oregano or thyme. And once your pasta dish is ready to serve, you can't go wrong with using fresh herbs like basil or parsley as a garnish!