Pasta recipes

Macaroni, tuna salad suitable for main or sid dish

Lightened fettuccine alfredo built on blended simmered garlic and broth, thickened with sour cream and parmesan instead of heavy cream. Zucchini matchsticks cook in the pasta water for a vegetable-loaded quick dinner.

Greek orzo pasta salad with feta cheese, green olives, tomato, fresh dill and parsley in a lemon-olive oil dressing. Bright make-ahead Mediterranean side dish.

Whole wheat penne tossed in a creamy spinach sauce made from blended goat cheese, cream cheese, and garlic. Ready in 25 minutes with just 8 ingredients.

Antipasto pasta salad with salami, provolone, garbanzo beans, olives, and mushrooms in a lemon-garlic-basil dressing. A make-ahead party dish that gets better as it chills.

Tagliatelle tossed with golden pan-fried pumpkin, peppery rocket, lemon zest, and a homemade roasted red pepper chili oil. A vibrant autumn pasta with serious kick.

This salad is subtle and very refreshing. There are a variety of textures-chewy cold noodles (bean thread noodles, some call them cellophane noodles 'cause when you boil them they become clear), crunchy sesame seeds, and crunchy cucumber slices. Sugar salt, and vinegar combine harmoniously, each understated but very much present.

This penne with sun-dried tomato pesto is definitely a quick and easy way for you to enjoy a delicious and healthy meal!

Japanese noodle soup with shiitake mushrooms, snow peas, red pepper, and rice noodles in a hot sesame broth, finished with ginger, brown rice vinegar, and roasted cashews. A vegetarian, low-fat Asian soup ready in 45 minutes.

An easy side dish that pairs well garnished with Parmesan, feta cheese, herbs or a drizzle of olive oil.

Saffron-laced pastina salad with pine nuts, currants, fresh mint, and orange blossom water. A fragrant Middle Eastern-inspired room temperature pasta side dish with turmeric and cumin.

Dried cherry couscous with tri-color bell peppers, carrots, and chives cooked in chicken broth. A colorful, fruity side dish that pairs beautifully with roasted turkey or chicken.

Broken spaghetti twirls through a sesame-poppy seed dressing with crisp cucumbers and red onions for a pasta salad that feeds a crowd.

A light main or hearty side dish, pearls of couscous with grilled veggies and a Lemon-Balsamic dressing.

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.

Yogurt cucumber salad with dill, dry mustard, and white vinegar. A cool, creamy, low-fat vegetarian side dish that comes together in 10 minutes flat.