Happy World Pasta Day! Celebrated everywhere, World Pasta Day is the perfect time to get together with friends and enjoy a pasta meal. From spaghetti to bow tie pasta and everything in between, there’s something for everyone. If you like traditional pasta, or pasta alternatives, there’s a recipe to satisfy your appetite. Give these recipes a go and let us know which you prefer.
BLT Pasta Skillet
Ingredients:
Salt
8 oz fusilli pasta
3 bacon strips
3 garlic cloves, sliced
28-ounce can peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
5 basil leaves
1/2 small head escarole, torn into pieces
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
8 ounces part-skim mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Directions: Cook pasta according to package directions. Save ½ cup of the pasta water for later. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cook bacon in skillet over medium heat until crispy, once the bacon has cooled down, break it into bite-size pieces. Begin making your pasta sauce by returning the skillet to medium heat, add garlic, and cook until it’s soft. Then add crushed tomatoes and juice, pasta water, crushed red pepper, escarole and ½ tsp of salt. Cook until sauce thickens and escarole wilts, within 15-20 minutes. Combine your cooked pasta and mozzarella with your sauce. Mix ricotta and parmesan cheese together and sprinkle over your pasta and sauce. Top with bacon pieces, add skillet to oven and bake until cheese has melted. Allow it to rest for about to 15 minutes and garnish it however you like.
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
Kosher salt
1 lb bow tie pasta
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 teaspoons dijon mustard
Ground pepper
3/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup diced onion
2 large pickled pepperoncini peppers, diced
3 tablespoons halved black olives
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
1 1/2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
1 1/2 tablespoons grated romano cheese
Directions: Boil a large pot of salted water, add your pasta, and cook until al dente. Drain your pasta, and cool by rinsing with cold water. Next make the vinaigrette by whisking vinegar, mustard, 1 tsp salt, and peeper in a small bowl. Whisk in enough oil to make the sauce smooth and season with additional salt and pepper. Combine the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, onion, pepperoncini, olives and oregano in a bowl and then add in the pasta. Combine pasta and veggies with the vinaigrette, top with cheese and toss. Chill until ready to serve.
Pasta Alternatives
Spaghetti Squash, easy to make and quite delicious. Cut a whole squash in half vertically. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees, for 30- 45 minutes. Once bake, scoop out the spaghetti strands and add your favorite toppings and sauce.
Brown Rice Pasta, a gluten-free option, that tastes like the real thing. Boil as you would traditional pasta, and add your favorite sauce, plus toppings.
Toppings: Basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, chives, spinach, crushed red pepper.
Sauces: Alfredo sauce, meat sauce, tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, vodka sauce, garlic cream sauce.
Bon Appétit!
