Serve this lush but simple eggplant and gnocchi dish with plenty of parmesan and a handful of basil leaves.
A tin of tomatoes with some garlic, olives and greens creates a nutritious
This creamy mushroom and thyme mix is perfect tossed through pasta of any kind. Thyme adds a herbaceous note that perfectly complements the mushrooms and garlic, while the parmesan and cream gives the dish a rich and deep flavour with a creamy finish.
Kids and adults alike will have a soft spot for this classic family favourite. Choose your favourite pasta shape (think spirals, macaroni or penne), toss with cheesy sauce and bacon, then grill in the oven until irresistibly golden.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.This macaroni served with oozing hot melted cheese and a hint of fresh lemon and thyme, is economical and delicious — especially on a cold night. This is also a great way to use up all those annoying small bits of cheese that get left in the back of the fridge.
When time isn’t on your side, reach for this recipe. Elegant, tasty and ready in a snap, this prawn pasta is spiked with fresh chilli and creamy feta. Serve with a sprinkle of extra basil leaves and enjoy.
Carb lovers, this one’s for you. It’s a carb-on-carb treatment that is also one of the best, time-honoured pantry-friendly dishes: pasta with breadcrumbs. When the smell of bread-meets-garlic-meets-olive-oil starts hitting the air in your kitchen, your intended eaters will feel the pull to the kitchen, if not the stove.
Serve up rich and delicious chicken livers, complemented perfectly by fresh thyme and a good splash of brandy and cream. Be sure to buy good-quality pappardelle, and don’t overcook the livers, a tiny bit of pink inside is just fine.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.Spaghetti and meatballs is always a winner. Here, meatballs are made with pork and beef and served alongside homemade sauce balanced with basil and balsamic vinegar. Pour over hot spaghetti and finish with plenty of parmesan.
Nuts add a wonderful crunch to this simple pasta of parmesan, lemon and fresh herbs. Serve with a fresh green salad and enjoy for a speedy weeknight bite that feels just a bit fancy.
This sauce doesn’t shirk on flavour. Anchovies and gorgonzola cheese are the base of this creamy, savoury sauce which is delicious tossed through your favourite pasta. Serve topped with pine nuts and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.
Everything tastes better with butter — even the smallest addition has the ability to make a dish truly sing. In this simple recipe, ricotta and herb gnocchi is simmered until tender, tossed in a lemony butter sauce, and then finished with a small handful of finely chopped Italian parsley.
This quick and creamy mid-week dinner complete with moreish bacon and pappardelle is simple to make, and a great way to introduce celery to those who think they’re not fans.
This one-pot pasta is dead simple to make, and a brilliant method to have in your back pocket for those busy nights when you’ve no idea what to cook. The spaghetti and butter beans are cooked in one big pot along with roughly-sliced kale, sundried tomatoes, a generous pinch of chilli flakes and the zest of a lemon.
You can never have too many bolognese recipes. This one uses vegetables only, with pumpkin, potato and carrot.
Go all out with this authentic, slow-cooked Italian recipe from The Long and Short of Pasta. Eight hours of slow cooking turns this beef and pork sauce into a rich, melt-in-your-mouth sensation worth every ounce of effort.
Nothing says autumn like fresh vibrant greens. This is a real crowd-pleaser, filled with peas, spinach, mint, basil, lemon and parmesan.
Fresh pasta is always my first choice for this fish dish, but mid-week, dry pasta from the cupboard is just as good. A squeeze of lemon is the perfect finish.
