Do you ever get home tired and all you want is a simple, tasty, quick fix? Or are you running out of time and just need a quick bite before leaving the house? Worry no more! Here are five simple and yummy pasta dishes you can quickly fix and enjoy. They are also budget-friendly and require few readily available ingredients.
Aglio e olio (spaghetti with garlic and olive oil)
This is one of the simplest but tastiest Italian pasta dishes. To prepare aglio e olio, you need spaghetti, garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes. Grated parmesan cheese or coriander are optional garnishes.
Boil your spaghetti in salted water until it is al dente. Heat olive oil in a separate pan on medium-low heat, add garlic and chili flakes, and sauté for about 5 minutes. When the pasta is ready, transfer it into the garlic saucepan, add about half a cup of the pasta water, and gently turn it until it is covered with the garlic sauce.
If your dish is too dry, add more of the starchy water. Taste and add more salt and chili flakes if needed. Garnish, then serve and enjoy while hot. The whole process should take around 15 minutes.
Spaghetti alla puttanesca
Originating from Naples, spaghetti alla puttanesca is a traditional Italian pasta that is easy to prepare. It is delicious and needs just a few simple and readily available ingredients. You only need spaghetti, canned tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, olives, anchovies, and capers.
If you intend to make the meal vegan, you can leave out the anchovies, although it may not taste as good without them. To prepare, boil your spaghetti and make your sauce simultaneously so they both finish at the same time.
Sauté your garlic with olive oil in a pan until the garlic starts to turn golden, but do not let it burn. Add your chopped anchovies, capers, olives, and chili flakes, and stir. Add a can of tomatoes, salt, and water, and let the mixture simmer for ten minutes.
At this point, your pasta should be cooked. Add it to your sauce, keeping one cup of starchy water aside. Stir to combine the sauce with the pasta, adding the starchy water bit by bit so that your meal doesn’t dry up and your sauce is nice and thick.
Garnish with basil and oregano and serve while hot.
Pasta e piselli
Pasta e piselli is a spring dish of Neapolitan origin. It is made with short pasta and fresh or frozen peas. You’ll need short pasta, olive oil, parmesan cheese, onions, and peas to make this hearty meal. If you are not vegetarian, you can add pancetta.
To prepare, boil your ditalini pasta (or any preferred small variety) for 5 minutes, then transfer it to the pot with peas to finish cooking. This method will also give you the starchy water you need for a creamy consistency.
In a separate pot, sauté your onions or shallots with olive oil. Add your mixture of peas and pasta, then stir. If your mixture is dry, add a little bit of the starchy water and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Then grate your parmesan cheese over your the dish and garnish.
You can also use Pecorino Romano cheese instead of parmesan or a combination of both. Serve and enjoy while hot.
Roasted broccoli pesto pasta
Roasted broccoli pesto pasta is a great way to incorporate vegetables into your diet, especially if you don’t like these green golds. The recipe is easy, and your meal will be ready in about 20 minutes. You will need penne noodles, broccoli, pine nuts, olive oil, lemon, garlic, parmesan, salt, and pepper to make this meal.
Toss your broccoli with salt, pepper, and olive oil on a baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 425°F and roast your broccoli until it is slightly brown and crispy. Add your roasted broccoli, pinenuts, garlic, parmesan, and lemon juice to a food processor. Then add olive oil and mix to combine.
Boil your penne pasta in salty water until al dente. Serve and add your broccoli pesto sauce and mix to combine. You can serve with sauteed Brussels sprouts, sauteed broccolini, or bread with a crunchy crust that you can dip in the pesto sauce.
Shrimp pasta primavera
Most people think this is an Italian dish. Surprisingly, it is an American dish first prepared by chef Sirio Maccioni and his two assistants in New York. The dish has since been modified and given Italian touches to make it what it is today.
To prepare, you need angel hair pasta, shrimp, asparagus, olive oil, garlic, mushrooms, chicken broth, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. Boil your pasta in salty water according to the directions provided until al dente.
In a separate pan, sauté your shrimp and asparagus until your shrimp turns pink. Add garlic, mushrooms, chicken broth, salt and pepper, or chili flakes and simmer for 2 minutes. When your pasta is ready, drain it and add it to your sauce. Mix to combine and garnish with parmesan and fresh herbs. Serve and enjoy while hot.
Parting shot
There are plenty of pasta varieties available on the market today. Most are super easy to prepare and do not require much time. Also, these dishes are packed with carbohydrates and vitamins. Wholemeal varieties are also high in fiber.
You can consider those made with semolina durum wheat because they contain vitamins, protein, and fiber. They also foster weight loss, good digestion, and heart health.
