What are some good pasta ideas that would be suitable for a formal dinner?

Question

...pasta dishes?

Answer 1

This is my most favorite pasta, and I have served it to my family and also for a dinner party. Very easy, as you make the sauce ahead ,and then just cook the pasta right before serving, and oh so good!!

LINGUINE WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

4 RIPE LARGE TOMATOES, CUT INTO ½” CUBES
1 LB. BERIE CHEESE, RIND REMOVED, TORN INTO IR Regular PIECES
1 CUP CLEANED FRESH BASIL LEAVES , CUT INTO STRIPES
3 GARLIC CLOVES , PEELED AND FINELY MINCED
1 CUP PLUS 1 T OLIVE OIL
2-½ t SALT
½ t FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER
1 ½ LBS. LINGUINE
FRESHLY GRATED IMPORTED Parmesan CHEESE

COMBINE TOMATOES, BRIE, BASIL, GARLIC, 1-CUP OLIVE OI, ½ t SALT, AND THE PEPPER IN A LARGE SERVING BOWL. PREPARE AT LEAST 2 HOURS BEFORE SERVING AND SET ASIDE, COVERED, AT ROOM TEMP.

BRING 6 QUARTS WATER TO A BOIL IN A LARGE POT. ADD 1 T OLIVE OIL AND REMAINING SALT. ADD THE LINGUINE AND BOIL UNTIL TENDER, 8 TO 10 MIN.

DRAIN PASTA AND IMMEDIATELY TOSS WITH THE TOMATO SAUCE. SERVE AT ONCE, PASSING THE PEPPER MILL, AND GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE.

SERVES 4 TO 6

Answer 2

I would check out recipes by Giada De Laurentiis. She is on the Food Network. She can make pasta formal. I would recommend if you are going to attempt to serve pasta at a formal dinner to remember that you guests will be dressed accordingly. No long pastas and I would try to avoid a lot of red sauce. Casserole type dishes and bread for dipping in well flavored oils. But really be careful. Italian can be a bit messy if you aren't careful. Maybe go with a shrimp dish with a light sauce. Oh and always remove the tails. Well dressed women don't want to be struggling to remove tails from shrimp.

Answer 3

I think that the only choice you really have are ravioli's . The reason being that a ravioli is easy to pick up, cut and eat with a fork. basically it's two bite item
There are some very formal looking ravioli out there - that come in various sizes, shapes, colors patterns and fillings. If you're in a big city with a decent sized Italian population there are stores that make and sell an amazing assortment of fresh and frozen pasta
There's a store on Mulberry and Hester in NYC
[who's name escapes me at the moment] That sells great ravioli
If you have a manual pasta machine- under twenty dollars - you can actually make it yourself and then the possibilities are endless.
Whatever you do use a white or whitish sauce;
a basil cream , a porcini mushroom cream , you get the idea

Answer 4

Pasta is great for formal dining. The trick is not to use a long pasta, spaghetti or fettucine. Use a short pasta, penne, rigatoni, farfalle etc. If you want something simple, make aglio olio. Cook your pasta until just before al dente. Heat a fry pan with a little olive oil, add some crushed garlic. Lightly cook the garlic, then add the pasta. Toss through and your done. You can add to your taste. Throw in some olives, a little fresh chilli, some basil, whatever flavours you like but don't over do it. Keep it simple. If you want to add a vegie, just add one to stay with the simple theme. Serve with a little parmesan cheese (if desired). And Buon Appetito!

Answer 5

Pasta for formal dinners are a great choice. The only questions is wheter you look to serve it as a warm appetizer or a main course. For warm appetizer you could do : Talgiattelle with wilted ruccola, crushed walnuts and shaved parmesan cheese tossed in extra virign olive oil,Lasagna sheets cut into squares, blanched and then assembled to a tower with a truffeled mushroom ragout in between. Generally everything that has not tomato sauce in it ok as app. Look forgreens or mushroom in it and you have a great app. For main course you could do Potato Gnocchi ( which you can buy at the store ) with pulled pork & mushroom Ragout / throw in some truffle oil if you're budget is ok with that ) Or a bed of fettunchini with lobster tail, risotto is always an option of course... Plenty of things to choose from. I would suggest using the pasta as a warm app though. Or Gnocchi with a roast as a main

Answer 6

If it's a sit down dinner a white sauce is always impressive.
I've made a spanakopita type sauce (spinach, onions, garlic, olive oil, loads of feta, fresh parsley, etc) on chunky pasta. It was a hit. Very crisp and chilled white vino (chardonnay is usually a safe bet) to go with it.

Answer 7

Pasta is not suitable for a formal dinner, no matter how it is prepared.

Answer 8

Big Boobs up top is wrong. Pasta anytime. Any kind. Anywhere.

Answer 9

pasta and cream sauce with vegi and fresh meat and ontop cheese andbake it in the oven until you smell the cheese
yum

Answer 10

Formal dinner... you have it in your question.
and big boobs up top is right... think more fish and snails ... less Italian...