Recipe Roundup: Easy Winter Pastas (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to pasta to make it better? ›

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.

Melt butter with garlic very slowly to avoid burning the garlic. Season with parsley, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until well coated with butter. Increase the heat to medium and cook until pasta is heated through and has absorbed some of the butter.

Pasta is a versatile dish, so it can go well with just about any savory seasoning. Try making a simple buttered pasta and adding classic Italian spices like oregano, parsley, basil, rosemary, or sage. You can also experiment with seasonings like turmeric, cumin, or even cardamom.

A quick Vegetable Pasta that's made with less pasta and more veggies that tastes so amazing, no one realises it's a healthy pasta recipe!!! It's a vegetarian pasta loaded with a whole head of broccoli, corn, zucchinis, capsicum/peppers and onion, and smothered in a garlic herb tomato sauce.

Pasta dish ideas including Lemon, Basil and Mascarpone, Quick Chicken Alfredo, White Wine, Mushroom and Cream, White Bean Sauce, Bacon and Scallions, Tuna and Capers, Lemon Artichoke Pesto, Smoked Salmon And Capers, and Caprese.

Fresh cheese makes a tasty topping for most pasta dishes.

While you can of course go for whatever cheese you have around your kitchen, fresh Parmesan or mozzarella cheese can make all the difference in elevating a simple pasta dish.

Pasta with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and whatever veggies you want is a deceptively delicious way to pasta. Also known as “Aglio e Olio” (garlic and oil) pasta, this easy alternative to tomato sauce is quick, easy, and delicious.

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.

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

Do you add butter to pasta? ›

A small amount of fat—extra-virgin olive oil or butter—is essential to good pasta sauce texture. Without fat, you have at best watery sauce (nobody has ever said, "Waiter, my pasta is not quite wet enough"), and at worst sauce that over-thickens with starch alone and takes on a pasty texture.

Ultimately, both methods can result in an exquisitely cooked noodle (just remember to take the pasta out in a timely manner!), but if you're a little short on time, the cold water method can save you a few minutes since you don't have to wait for the water to boil to start cooking.

Cold-Start Pasta Is Faster and Uses Less Water

In our tests, 1 pound of dried pasta started in 1 quart of cold water cooked up just as nicely al dente as the same type of pasta started in 4 quarts of boiling water (our conventional method).

Kosher salt is ideal for salting pasta water since it's inexpensive and has a pleasant flavor—important since it will be a major flavor component of the cooked noodles. This step ensures that your pasta is seasoned throughout, and not just from the sauce slicked on the outside of the noodles.

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 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.

You can add a splash of vinegar, lemon juice, or wine. Add some sweetness. Sweetness can also help to balance out the flavors in your sauce. You can add a pinch of sugar, a splash of honey, or a few grated carrots.

Start with the basics -- onion, cilantro, roasted red pepper, corn and tomatoes. Then take a can of black bean, drain and rinse them, and add this to the mix along with the small, shaped pasta of your choice. Spice it up with some diced jalapeños and habaneros, and add some powdered cumin and chili powder.