If you’ve been bored with your most recent pasta dinners, it’s time to start using your noodle and getting creative in the kitchen. We’ve got a few tips for you to get the most out of your macaroni!
Tip #1: Stop using jarred sauce. Not only are most jarred sauces full of sugar (yes, sugar) and preservatives, but they can also be very boring. You want something that’s going to tickle your taste buds and have your guests begging for more. That’s when a different kind of sauce comes in: homemade arugula pesto! In a food processor, blend 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 clove garlic, 1 handful of Parmesan cheese and 6-10 cups fresh arugula. Add additional oil if necessary. Pour your pesto sauce onto a hot frying pan, add your cooked pasta and toss in the pan until nice and hot. Serve!
Tip #2: Add marinated shrimp, steak, chicken or tofu to your pasta for some flavorful protein action.
Tip #3: Serve your cooked, plain pasta as a delicious pasta salad. All you do is add fresh, colorful veggies and a lemon-basil salad dressing (Whisk together: 1/4 cup olive oil, zest of one lemon and juice of 3 lemons, salt n’ pepper to taste, and dried basil).Toss everything together, chill in the refrigerator and serve at a picnic or potluck! Don’t forget to add fresh basil to the top for a beautiful garnish.
Tip #4: Add about 1/4 cup chicken stock and some chicken sausage (removed from the casing) to a hot pan. Cook until sausage is golden brown and no longer pink inside. Follow the instructions on the package to make sure your sausage is thoroughly cooked. Add some white wine to your pan, and then add some partially-steamed broccoli (it’ll continue to cook on the pan). Add your cooked pasta. Top with some grated cheese and red pepper flakes.
Tip #5: Roast it up. Add roasted portobello mushrooms, roasted garlic, roasted carrots, roasted fennel, and some fresh rosemary to your pasta. Drizzle it all with some white truffle oil and sprinkle some herbs de Provence on top. You can find herbs de Provence in your local gourmet food shop–it’s a combination of lavender and other herbs often used in French cooking. A little bit of this stuff would be delicious atop your pasta.
Tip #6: If you want to go down the less healthy yet extremely scrumptious buttery route, that’s okay, too! Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a medium-sized frying pan. Add some fresh sage leaves, a handful of walnuts and some freshly cooked spaghetti. Toss together, add salt, pepper, and a drizzle of store-bought balsamic glaze. Turn off the heat and stir in a good handful of Pecorino Romano cheese. Serve. Easy!
We hope we’ve satisfied your pasta craving. Share your tips for delicious pasta dishes, too! We’d love to hear ‘em.
