Any ideas on how to make a pasta dish interesting?

Question

I am fed up with grated cheese...or opening one of those tomato based jars.....also do the usual...lasagna,bolognase -want to try something different!!

Your ideas would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Pasta Primavera

1 (8 ounce) package dry pasta
1/4 cup margarine
1 envelope dry vegetable soup mix
1 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

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Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
In a saucepan melt margarine. Blend soup mix with flour and milk and add to skillet; stir. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in cheese. Toss with cooked pasta.

Answer 2

In a large frying pan, saute one large onion in a little butter(tsp)and a tsp of olive oil add tsp salt&tsp pepper (or less or more) untill very golden brown not black.when golden brown open 2 cans of sweet peas juice and all and put with onions,turn off the heat. This is served with small to med shell pasta,the peas get into the shells,you can tell your kids they are pearls. Make sure the pasta is not over cooked and salt the pasta water,scoop the pasta into the peas and onions and put 1/2 a cup of the pasta water in the dish,it makes it all come together.

Answer 3

Try mixing in with it some harissa or garlic paste. Similar to tomato sauces but more exciting.
Or chop some fresh herbs in - coriander and basil are fab. How about some pine nuts? Or pulses like flageolet beans? And when adding pepper, use the freshly-ground stuff or even better crush the corns yourself. Drizzle some olive oil over (perhaps flavoured oil like lemon or chilli)

Answer 4

I love this dish:

take some nice big prawns and fry them in a little olive oil and lots of chilli flakes. When they're warmed through and going all golden, squeeze in some lemon juice. Add some cooked peas and mix together with cooked pasta and creme fraiche.

Really simple but so tasty! Serve with a big green salad and garlic bread.

Answer 5

wow me and my frends done dis last sunday and everyone loved it.
first chop sum green pepers or any other colour u like, chop sum onions, carrots, get sum sweet corn, and frozen peas
(dont chop them in very small pieces but dont leave them to big either) start fryin them and put sum spices of ur choice
meanwhile get the water to boil and leave the past to cook (best pasta wud b those curly wurlys lol i dont know what their name is but u can use any pasta u like after all)
in another pot put 2 eggs to boil (ull need them hard)
than go bak to ur fryin veggies wen u think the carrots got soft enough and dat put tomatoe sause with tomatoe bits in it, stir for a while and dats ready.
so now u can mix ur pasta and veggies together with grated chadder cheese and a beaten egg and put in a right sized dish. get the hard boiled eggs ( use d right tool to slice dem) and place on top of the pasta. in d end put sum more cheese and put in d oven for about 15 mins.
mmmmm hope u like my oven parta reciepe. try it ;)

Answer 6

Try tortellini, gnocchi, cappeletti etc. You can make then yourself and flavour them with herbs and your choice of filling. Also try and use ingredients you wouldn't normally use, maybe to create a bit of a fusion dish? Or try to use different vegetables like arugula/rocket lettuce, they have a chracteristic nutty flavour and are great to eat on they're own as well as to use in salads. Try adding a dash of wine, vinegar, or a pinch of capers or olives to make it more interesting. Flavoured oils are available or you could make your own, like pistachio oil or lobster oil. There are many ways so start experimenting!

Answer 7

My favorite pasta dish is elbow macaroni with corn, black beans, chopped red peppers and chopped scallions. The sauce is made of honey, lime juice, cumin and a little hot sauce. You can add chopped chicken if you like. Best served cold. Enjoy!

Answer 8

Cooked pasta with cream cheese stirred into it and served with a salad. It takes about 10 mins and my kids love it.

Answer 9

A tin of tuna mixed in with a squirt of salad cream

Crispy bacon, cherry tomatoes, chopped pepper all mixed in with some mayo

Answer 10

try specialty infused olive oils, pine nuts, a variety of mushrooms, roam the gourmet section for inspiration. Also, check out www.recipezaar.com for some amazing recipes.

www.hgtv.com has all the recipes from the cooking shows, they have some wonderful ideas.

Bon appetit!

Answer 11

Try garlic grilled shrimp, over bed of pasta with fresh spinach. Mixed green salad, crusty bread, wine, Mangia!!!!