10 wonderful ways with pasta
1st Jan 2015 Recipes
Here are 10 wonderful recipes for all manner of shapes of, and cooking methods for pasta.
Popular history has it that Marco Polo first brought pasta to Italy from the Far East in the 13th century. There is after all, little real difference between Asian noodles and our Western Pasta.
Pasta is made from hard durum wheat flour, which is mixed with either water or eggs and kneaded until it is silky smooth. It is either then rolled and cut, or extruded through a mould to make a variety of shapes.
Traditionally, the best pasta is made from a bronze mould, which gives a dull but textured surface—all the better for holding the sauce! There are at least 350 different types of pasta, of varying quality from store brought to premium like those from Sitalia Deli, each with a different character, and suited to different types of dishes. Here are 10 of our favourites.
Creamy chorizo one-pot magic pasta
Image via Fuss Free Flavours
This is a true one-pot pasta—carefully measure the ingredients, fling it all in, let it cook and make a sauce. Made with spaghetti.
Pumpkin macaroni cheese
Image via The Petite Cook
This macaroni cheese is given a twist by making with dischi volante pasta, and adding roasted pumpkin.
Linguini with red wine, bean bolognese
Image via The Veg Space
A delicious meat-free dish of linguini served with a rich Bolognese made from pinto beans, red wine and olives.
The perfect dish for a cold evening.
Chilli mussels with pennoni pasta
Image via Maison Cupcake
These mussels, served in a garlic chilli tomato sauce, will transport you back to your last Mediterranean holiday.
Served with pennoni, or giant penne.
Bolognese with rigatoni
Image via Enjoy Tribute
An authentic Bolognese is a slowly cooked meat sauce, without herbs and light on the tomatoes.
This version is served with rigatoni—the ridges pick up the sauce, and the sauce makes its way into the tubes.
Handmade Russian pelmeni
Image via Enjoy Tribute
Fresh pasta is a joy to eat and a fun weekend project to make your own.
These Russian dumplings are filled with a mix of beef and pork and served in a hot broth.
Fettuccine with capers and pinenuts
Image via Cotter Crunch
Long thin ribbons of pasta such as fettuccine are perfect for serving with a cream sauce.
This recipe uses Greek yoghurt in place of cream, as well as gluten free pasta.
Pesto orzo squash bowls
Small pasta such as orzo, which resembles giant grains of rice, is ideal for using where you would use rice.
Here mini squashes are stuffed with orzo and baked.
Homemade orecchiette
Image via Vindulge
Orecchiette, which literally means little ear, comes from Apulia in the South of Italy and is ideal paired with a fresh tomato sauce.
To make it you roll out a rope of fresh pasta and shape with a knife and your thumb.
Heart-shaped ravioli with a chocolate mascarpone filling
Image via The Things We'll Make
Ravioli are little parcels of pasta stuffed with a, usually, savoury filling.
In this romantic version, homemade fresh pasta with added cocoa powder is filled with a chocolate cheese for a dessert with a twist.
Helen Best-Shaw" target="_blank">Helen Best-Shaw is a freelance food & recipe writer and blogger at Fuss Free Flavours
