Pasta recipes

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.

Thai kanom jin nam prik curry noodles built on a fragrant coconut-moong bean sauce with red curry paste, tamarind, and crispy fried shallots and garlic. Rich, tangy, and earthy, served over soft rice noodles with long beans and sprouts.

Chicken marinara made with a fast homemade tomato sauce of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, red wine, and basil spooned over cooked chicken pieces. A 25-minute weeknight Italian dinner with pantry staples.

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.

My family's go to pasta sauce. It is great on spaghetti or folded into mostaccoli.

Stir-fried rice noodles tossed with garlic, ginger, shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, and fresh basil, finished with crushed peanuts and lime. A vegan Thai noodle dish ready in under 40 minutes.

Hearty lentil tomato sauce with dried lentils, fresh tomatoes, and Italian herbs simmered into a thick, protein-rich vegetarian pasta sauce. Meaty texture without the meat.

Grilled lamb chops with Gorgonzola cream sauce reduced from white wine, heavy cream, blue cheese, and butter. A steakhouse-style entree for special-occasion dinners.

Steamed corn pones are simple masa dough logs wrapped in softened corn husks and steamed until tender. A rustic Mexican-Southern US sidekick to beans, chili, or stews.

Noodle and mushroom souffle layered with ground beef, leeks, tomatoes, and melted cheese, then set with an egg-cream custard. Hearty German-style nudelauflauf for a family dinner.

Warm cheese tortellini salad with broccoli, Havarti cubes, roasted red peppers, and Dijon vinaigrette. A quick, cheesy Italian pasta salad ready in 30 minutes.

Microwave chicken tetrazzini with peas, mushrooms, and a creamy sherry sauce over spaghetti. Lighter than traditional versions using skim milk, this one-dish pasta dinner comes together in 35 minutes.

Rabbit with sweet Italian sausage braised in a tomato-and-wine sauce with peppers, garlic, and a bright lift of orange. Lean rabbit browns in the sausage fat for deep, rustic Italian flavor over pasta or rice.

Mom's German meatballs: hearty egg-sized meatballs seasoned with celery seed, mustard seed, and garlic water, rolled in flour and pan-browned. Old-world German-American home cooking.

Chicken liver stroganoff: quickly seared livers, sauteed mushrooms, and sweet softened onions in a tangy soured cream and yogurt sauce. A rich, economical twist on stroganoff over rice or pasta.

A tasty family staple recipe that is easy to make and beats any jarred sauce.