Pasta/5 recipes

Earthy wild mushroom lasagna layered with Marsala-sauteed fungi, creamy Fontina bechamel, and a golden mozzarella-Parmesan crust. Vegetarian comfort food at its most elegant.

Lemon-Sage Tortellini with Chicken and Peppers recipe

Microwave spinach lasagna layered with cottage cheese, fresh spinach, mozzarella, and Parmesan in a herb-spiked tomato sauce. Vegetarian lasagna on the table in 70 minutes, no oven required.

Restaurant-style spaghetti and meatballs inspired by Little Joe's in L.A. Three-meat meatballs in a simmered tomato sauce with red wine, basil, and oregano. Worth every minute.

An easy to make faux Alfredo sauce. This recipe, on further analysis, is too difficult for a person on crutches.

Bring flavors from India into your home with this succulent chicken dish that can be made in your crockpot.

Italian spinach pasta (pasta verde): three-ingredient homemade green pasta of blanched spinach, eggs, and flour. Classic Emilia-Romagna technique for tagliatelle, lasagna, or ravioli.

Spaghettini tossed with oil-packed sundried tomatoes, golden-seared zucchini chunks, garlic-infused olive oil, and a lemon-zested vegetable broth. A vegetarian pasta with sunny Mediterranean flavor.

Hearty burgundy spaghetti sauce with red wine, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, green pepper, basil, and oregano. A meatless pasta sauce with rich, wine-deepened tomato flavor.

Mix-and-match meatballs you build your way, choosing the meat, broth, herb, and creamy finish. Baked, then simmered in a mushroom gravy enriched with sour cream, yogurt, or cream cheese, served over noodles, rice, or spaetzle.

Jumbo homemade ravioli with fresh basil-infused pasta dough and a ground veal filling. Giant 4-inch squares served with homemade tomato sauce. A from-scratch Italian pasta project worth the effort.

Vegan spaghetti with mashed tofu, nutritional yeast, and tamari stirred into tomato sauce. A quick, high-protein plant-based pasta dinner for two.

Light shrimp spaghetti in a white wine and tomato sauce with garlic, basil, and oregano. Low-fat weeknight pasta with bright, clean flavors.

Macaronia me voutyro, a classic Greek pasta tossed in browned butter and grated cheese, then baked briefly for a golden top. Three ingredients, pure comfort.

A lighter noodle casserole made with low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, carrots, and mushrooms seasoned with basil and thyme. Diabetic-friendly and big enough to feed a crowd. Serves 12.

Italian Parmesan risotto topped with garlicky pan-toasted mushrooms. Creamy rice built one ladle of broth at a time, finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano and crowned with golden mushrooms.