Pasta/3 recipes

A fragrant homemade Chinese ten-spice blend with toasted star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, fennel, coriander, and cumin. Toast, grind, and store for marinades, stir-fries, sauces, and meat rubs.

Butter-seared chicken breast simmered in white wine, heavy cream, and chewy sun-dried tomatoes with a hint of Cajun spice. Ready in 40 minutes, serve over pasta for a rich weeknight dinner.

Garden squash and nasturtium butter pasta with tagliatelle, squash blossoms, and a compound butter made from fresh nasturtium flowers, shallots, thyme, and savory. A seasonal garden-to-table dish.

Tofu and ricotta spinach lasagna blends crumbled tofu into the ricotta for a lighter, protein-packed cheese layer, stacked with spinach, tomato sauce, and noodles. A hearty vegetarian lasagna that bakes up creamy.

Spinach ricotta gnocchi tossed in a simple butter-cream Parmesan sauce. Handmade Italian green gnocchi that are light, pillowy, and freezer-friendly.

Pasta e fagioli the proper Italian way: dried red kidney beans slow-baked with sage and garlic, then simmered with pancetta and a sofrito of carrot, celery, and onion. Half the beans get pureed for that signature silky, stew-thick body.

Szechuan noodles tossed in a spicy tahini-chili sauce with tamari, sesame oil, bean sprouts, and fresh spinach. Ready in 15 minutes, vegetarian option.

Irish-style spaghetti sauce with ground beef, red wine, tomato puree, chicken broth, and a warm hint of nutmeg. Simmered for an hour into a rich, velvety meat sauce.

Italian no-cook tomato cucumber summer salad with red onion, basil, parsley, and a touch of red pepper flakes. Italian-style topping for bruschetta or tossed cold with pasta.

Fragrant Asian pesto with peanuts, fresh basil, mint, cilantro, green chilies, and ginger. A bold, herbaceous sauce for noodles that's ready in 15 minutes. Vegetarian-friendly.

Elegant Italian pasta rolls stuffed with three cheeses, smoked ham, and prosciutto, poached in chicken broth and served over fresh tomato sauce. A masterchef-worthy showpiece.

Mediterranean stuffed meatballs hide blanched vegetables inside seasoned beef with Parmesan and nutmeg, breaded and deep-fried, served over spaghetti with ratatouille sauce.

Mediterranean turkey casserole with egg noodles, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and two cheeses in a white wine cream sauce. A great way to use leftover turkey.

Vegan Sicilian lentil pasta sauce simmered with mushrooms, garlic, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Low-fat, high-protein, and hearty enough to replace any meat sauce over pasta or rice.

Butter-sauteed shrimp deglazed with white wine, served over thin pasta with a slow-simmered Provencal tomato sauce rich with basil and oregano. Worth every minute of the long, lazy simmer.

Eggplant, tomato, and red pepper sauce simmered with garlic, tomato paste, and honey. A versatile, low-fat sauce for pasta, grilled fish, or chicken.