Cuisine: Pasta
Stir-Fried Udon With Bacon, Parmesan & Gochujang
If three chefs, one Korean, one Japanese, and one Italian walked into a kitchen (bar)... This Stir-Fried Udon With Bacon, Parmesan & Gochujang is sort of a carbonara using Asian ingredients. I know it sounds a bit odd, but it totally works. The key to making this is to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go because this dish is very quick to make. You should use frozen Japanese udon, which has a completely different texture than the dried version.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 2 Servings
Sheetpan Layerless Lasagna
Giada De Laurentiis came up with this easy Sheetpan Layerless Lasagna. If you like crispy edges, this is it. By putting it on a sheetpan, it creates more crispiness. I love the fact that you don't have the tedious task of layering. You can make it ahead of time and refrigerate until it's time to serve - pull it out of the fridge about 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Yields: 6 Servings
Spaghetti all’Assassina (Assassin’s Spaghetti)
After watching this CNN episode of Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy, I was intrigued by this recipe, which uses an alarming amount of red pepper flakes. I happened to be rather fond of red pepper flakes and always carry some in my purse and my car. This recipe is courtesy of chef Celso Laforgia, chef and owner of Urban Bistrot in Bari, capital of Puglia in southeast Italy. He says that the two things you need are a powerful fire and a big pan that will fit the spaghetti. The trick to the dish is to burn it enough to make it crunchy, but not burn it so much that it's bitter. When the pasta makes a crackling noise, you know it's ready. If you want to make it, you should watch the episode which explains it all. By the way, we loved it.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 8 Servings
Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel
There is nothing more satisfying than rummaging through the fridge and finding all the ingredients for dinner. This Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel is absolutely delicious. I know many people that do not like fennel. Fennel can be eaten raw in salads, where there is a strong anise flavor, but when it's cooked it becomes sweeter and mellower and nearly all that licorice flavor melts away.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Chile Crisp Fettuccini Alfredo with Spinach
The creamy and subtly spicy Chile Crisp Fettuccini Alfredo with Spinach is outstandingly good. The chili crisp gets sizzled in butter before adding cream and parmesan cheese. Chili crisp is a condiment of oil infused with peppers, onions, and garlic, and is satisfyingly crispy, and crunchy. This recipe will be on repeat.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Yields: 6 Servings
Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Tuscan Sausage Pasta is comfort food at its best, perfect for a chilly autumn night. It's a combination of pasta, Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach in a rich cream sauce. It's ready in under 30 minutes.
- Yields: 6 Servings
Couscous, Cherry Tomato & Herb Salad
This Couscous, Cherry Tomato & Herb Salad is a perfect accompaniment to all sorts of grilled meats and vegetables. You can make the couscous, onion, and raisin mix 1 day in advance, and keep them separately in the fridge, just bring it to room temperature before serving.
- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Creamy Pasta with Broccoli & Bacon
This Creamy Pasta with Broccoli and Bacon is quick and a wonderful weeknight dinner. It's sure to satisfy your whole family. Sun-dried tomatoes give it a tangy and subtly sweet flavor, which pairs well with the saltiness of the bacon. You can also add chicken breast if you want to add more protein.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
One-Pot Pasta With Ricotta and Lemon
This One-Pot Pasta with Ricotta and Lemon from The New York Times is a mixture of ricotta and Parmesan, with the zest and juice of one lemon. It's light and refreshing and goes perfectly while watching Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy on CNN. I find it absolutely impossible to watch it without eating some Italian food...
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Chicken Luzon
This Chicken Luzon apparently is a recipe from Brennan's in New Orleans, though it's no longer on the menu. Regardless of where this recipe originated, it's really good. The chicken is coated in a rub, simmered in a creamy sauce, and served on a bed of linguini. It's quick and easy to make.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 8 Servings