Pasta recipes

Pasta with beans, the Italian-American take on pasta e fagioli, with elbow macaroni tossed into a brothy tomato base loaded with cannellini beans, garlic, and Parmesan. Rustic one-pot comfort food.

Pasta alla carrettiera is a no-cook Italian sauce of raw tomato, garlic, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes pounded into a rough paste with olive oil, then tossed with hot spaghetti. Bright, raw, summer-perfect.

Toasted cumin, chili powder, enchilada sauce, beans, and corn simmered into a bold Southwestern sauce served over pasta with melted cheddar on top.

Javanese peanut pasta with fettuccine tossed in a spicy peanut sauce made from chunky peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, and rice vinegar. Topped with coconut and cucumber.

Tri-color pasta with a simple tomato sauce simmered with garlic and onion, tossed with fresh basil, olive oil, and Parmesan. Italian comfort food from pantry staples.

Lentil pasta soup with orzo, Italian green beans, tomatoes, and four dried herbs in a chicken broth base. A hearty one-pot soup finished with vinegar and croutons.

Shrimp and vegetable linguine tossed in a no-cook sauce of olive oil, lemon juice, fresh dill, Roma tomatoes, and chili oil. Loaded with broccoli, peas, and peppers.

Here is a kind of throw together recipe I came up with: If you are entertaining you can garnish with fresh parsley and serve with a caesar salad, garlic bread and a nice chablis. The vegetables can vary. I've used mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower etc. Grouper works well with this because it has a lot of flavor. I've used fresh tuna and halibut but prefer grouper.

Linguine with asparagus, jumbo shrimp, and bacon in a white wine cream sauce. Shell-on shrimp are seared, then simmered in wine to build a rich, layered sauce from scratch.

Diced beef chuck slow-simmered with chili powder, cumin, and cayenne, thickened with cornmeal and ladled over hot pasta. A Tex-Mex spin on meat sauce that's hearty enough for hungry crowds.

Southwestern pasta sauce with sherry-sauteed garlic and shallots, sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, and fresh herbs. No oil, no cream, just bright pantry flavors over your favorite noodles.

Pasta with vodka sauce: a buttery cream sauce reduced with vodka, mushrooms, and fresh tomatoes. A restaurant-style Italian classic that uses the alcohol to unlock tomato flavor.

A good combination, and very quick and easy to make!

Pasta with sauteed summer vegetables, garlic, fresh basil, and tomato, finished with Parmesan. A flexible, fast weeknight pasta built on what is in season.

Carrot egg pasta, fresh homemade noodles made with durum semolina, eggs and carrot puree for a vibrant orange color and subtle sweetness. A pasta-machine dough that sneaks a vegetable into dinner.

A vibrant marinated shrimp and vegetable linguine with bell peppers, Roma tomatoes, broccoli, peas, fresh dill, and a lemon-herb olive oil dressing. Marinate ahead, toss with hot pasta, and serve.