Pasta recipes

Homemade pasta triangles stuffed with salmon, cream cheese, and peppers, dried for an hour, then baked in tomato soup and topped with melted cheddar: unique salmon ravioli casserole.

Winter pesto made with fresh parsley and dried basil when fresh basil is out of season. Pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil blended smooth for pasta, soups, or bread.

Crawfish au gratin baked in a rich double-cheddar sauce with sauteed bell pepper, celery, and onion. A bubbly, cheesy Cajun casserole that's pure Louisiana comfort food.

Nothing is more fascinating and delicious than eating at the open- air street hawker centers in Asia, particularly in Singapore. Each stall serves a specialty, typically an honest, unpretentious, home-style dish for $1 to $3 a plate. This rice noodle dish is hawker food at its best. If done right, its fragrance will tell you how good it's going to be as soon as it arrives at your table.

Peanut noodles toss fresh Chinese flour noodles with a quick peanut butter, chili-garlic paste, and fish sauce sauce. Six ingredients, 20 minutes, proper Southeast Asian flavor.

Salsa pesto blends fresh basil, garlic, and onion with butter, olive oil, Parmesan, and toasted pine nuts for a richer, creamier spin on classic Genovese pesto. Toss with pasta, spread on grilled bread, or spoon over roast chicken.

Mee Krob: Thai crisp-fried rice noodles tossed in a sweet-sour-salty sauce with pork, chicken, or shrimp, topped with lacy fried egg nets. Crunchy, tangy, showstopping.

Plump shrimp in a velvety cream sauce made with tri-color sweet peppers, apple juice, and a custom seasoning blend. Lightened up with evaporated skim milk and cream cheese, served over rice or pasta.

Greek-style shrimp baked in a briny tomato sauce with clam juice and topped with crumbled feta cheese that melts into every bite. Just 4 ingredients and 40 minutes for a Mediterranean weeknight dinner.

Crispy breaded veal cutlets pan-fried golden, layered with marinara, Parmigiano, and melted mozzarella. A classic Italian-American main in 40 minutes.

Mee Krob (Thai crisp fried noodles) loaded with pork, chicken, and shrimp, bean sprouts, and a sweet-sour-salty sauce. A crunchy one-wok showstopper from Thailand.

Sauteed crawfish tails with honey in a fresh tomato-dill sauce, served over rice or pasta. A Southern-meets-Mediterranean crawfish dish with a sweet-savory twist.

Pad Thai with chicken, shrimp, rice noodles, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts in a fish sauce and lime dressing. A classic Thai stir-fry made at home.

Classic veal parmigiana with double-dipped, breadcrumb-crusted cutlets fried crisp and baked under marinara and bubbly mozzarella. Works with chicken, turkey, or fish too. Ready in 40 minutes.

Homemade Pad Thai with chicken or pork, shrimp, rice noodles, and a tangy fish sauce with tomato paste and dried shrimp. Topped with crispy fried basil, peanuts, and bean sprouts.

Cajun crawfish tails and smoky tasso sautéed with the holy trinity, mushrooms, and garlic, finished with white wine and butter. Serve over rice or pasta for a quick bayou-worthy supper.