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30+ Best Pasta Recipes

Spinach Noodles with Citrus-Nori Oil Recipe

Looking for great pasta recipes? These are the best pasta recipes on 101 Cookbooks.

  1. Homemade Cavatelli

    Simple, homemade cavatelli pasta is a super fun shape to make! Pictured here spiked with turmeric and black pepper, and topped with roasted winter vegetables and Parmesan.

  2. Homemade Pasta

    Everything I know about making homemade pasta. Four ingredients! If you have flour, two eggs, a splash of olive oil, and a bit of salt, you can do it right now.

  3. Spaghetti with No-Cook Sauce

    A tangle of spaghetti, olives, nuts, vegetables, and torn mozzarella in a no-cook, lemon-zested tomato sauce. A recipe for a hot night when tomato season is at its peak.

  4. Curried Tomato Tortellini Soup

    A crowd-pleasing tomato-based tortellini soup, dotted with plump, tender dumplings, spiked with a range of spices, and boosted with plenty of spinach.

  5. Stuffed Shells

    A stuffed shells recipe made with lemon zest and bright tomato sauce. Classic, with a hint of a twist. Everyone loves them.

  6. Hazelnut & Chard Ravioli Salad

    Ravioli salads are the best! Plump raviolis tossed with toasted hazelnuts, lemony chard, and caramelized onions are at the heart of this ravioli salad recipe. The colorful platter is finished off with a dusting of cheese, snipped chives, and lemon zest.

  7. Spaghetti with No-Cook Sauce

    A tangle of spaghetti, olives, nuts, vegetables, and torn mozzarella in a no-cook, lemon-zested tomato sauce. A recipe for a hot night when tomato season is at its peak.

  8. Pasta with Smashed Zucchini Cream

    If you have an endless supply of zucchini right now, this is your recipe. A simple, garlic-boosted pasta, it uses two pounds of zucchini, and is endlessly adaptable.

  9. Pasta with Creamy Crushed Walnut Sauce

    Toasted walnuts pounded with garlic into a creamy sauce make this pasta easy and exceptional. If you have dried pasta, a few cloves of garlic, walnuts, and black pepper you can make this. The other ingredients – lemon zest, a bit of grated cheese, a finishing cascade of breadcrumbs and herbs are encouraged, but not essential. One of my very favorite pasta recipes!

  10. Pasta with Etruscan Sauce

    From the Pasta Grannies series, this is a simple pasta with a special sauce made from a quick puree of sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, parsley, and garlic. It’s fast, strong, adaptable, and doesn’t disappoint.

  11. Last Minute Red Lasagna

    Everyone needs a go-to lasagna recipe. A great one. This is a true weeknight lasagna. No pre-cooking sauces, no pre-cooking noodles. You, literally, stir the first five ingredients together into a vibrant crushed tomato sauce, and start layering.

  12. Beer-Roasted Cauliflower with Pasta

    Poach a whole head of cauliflower in an olive-oil dappled, chile-spiked, beer-based broth, then wedge it & roast it until golden-crusted and butter tender.

  13. Weeknight Ponzu Pasta

    All things green in a quick, weeknight pasta option. It’s feel-good food that won’t weigh you down – ponzu dressing, green vegetables, and the pasta of your choice.

  14. Instant Pot Mushroom Stroganoff with Vodka

    Make this stroganoff your dinner tonight, seriously! Made with caraway-spiked vodka, and a hearty mushroom base, you get all of what you love about mushroom stroganoff, without the all the butter and cream.

  15. Vegetable Noodle Soup

    This vegetable noodle soup is as simple, direct, and delicious as it gets. If you’re vegetarian or vegan looking for an alternative to chicken noodle soup, try this!

  16. Pasta with Baby Kale, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, and Pesto

    Literally, just six ingredients in this awesome pasta bowl.

  17. Spicy Tahini Noodles with Roasted Vegetables

    This is my favorite kind of weeknight meal. Noodles tossed with a quick sauce, topped with an abundance of vegetables, and kissed with chile feistiness courtesy of the condiment shelf.

  18. Quick Blistered Cherry Tomato Spaghetti

    So good! If you’re looking for one of these pasta recipes to try, this is it. An updated take on weeknight spaghetti. It’s basically spaghetti combined with skillet blistered cherry tomatoes and broccoli. Tossed with mint, cashews, chiles, and Parmesan.

  19. Weeknight Pasta Ideas with Less Than Ten Ingredients

    A solid handful of weeknight pasta ideas to keep things quick-ish and creative.

  20. Easy Tomato & Pasta Salad

    Pasta salad extraordinaire – tomatoes & pasta in an A+ one-bowl meal. Whole-grain pasta, baby kale, basil, and the best tomatoes you can get your hands on, with a generous drizzle of strong harissa dressing.

  21. Fregola Sarda, the Perfect Lunchy Brunch Dish

    Fregola is a beautiful, tasty Sardinian pasta made from hard durum wheat flour – rolled, sun-dried, and toasted to a mix of shades of yellow, gold, and brown. It’s so good.

  22. Simple Beet Fettuccine

    Fresh pasta, you can do it! A beautiful, fun, and simple way to make homemade fettuccine noodles.

  23. Last Minute Everything Bagel Noodle Bowl

    A perfect one-pot meal. Noodles, tofu, and broccoli boiled in one pot, drained, tossed with splashes of olive oil and ponzu, plus a generous showering of everything bagel seasoning to finish it all off.

  24. Roasted Vegetable Orzo

    Roasted delicata squash and kale tossed w/ orzo pasta & salted yogurt dressing.

  25. Creamy Four Ingredient Chili Mac (Instant Pot / Conventional)

    Chili, beer, and elbow pasta. I know of no other dinner that takes less effort than the Instant Pot version of this. It’s literally for nights when take-out takes too long, and is too much effort. Seriously.

  26. Spicy Tahini Noodles with Roasted Vegetables

    This is my favorite kind of weeknight meal. Noodles tossed with a quick sauce, topped with an abundance of vegetables, and kissed with chile feistiness courtesy of the condiment shelf.

  27. Brown Butter Tortelli

    A simple pasta dish made from ricotta-stuffed tortelli tossed with brown butter balsamic sauce, arugula, pecorino cheese, and lemon zest.

  28. An Excellent, One-pan, Protein-packed Power Pasta

    One-pot meals are the savior of weeknight cooking, and this pasta is a go-to. It’s pasta and lentils simmered in crushed tomatoes, finished with lots of chopped kale, saffron, swirls of tahini and chopped almonds.

  29. Harissa Spaghettini

    A unique and flavor-packed pasta recipe. Whole wheat pasta noodles, olives, kale, pine nuts tossed in a pan for a tangle with a garlic-charged harissa and olive oil sauce.

  30. Spinach Noodles with Citrus-Nori Oil

    A twist on a favorite pasta recipe from Super Natural Simple. Light and bright with assertive jolts of lemon zest and cayenne, plus a bit of crunch from sesame seeds, this version was made with Spinach pasta, but can be made with a whole range of noodles. Grab the recipe on this page, just below!

I hope at least a few of these pasta recipes strike a chard with you!

 

 

Spinach Noodles with Citrus-Nori Oil

This is a twist on a favorite pasta recipe from Super Natural Simple. Light and bright with assertive jolts of lemon zest and cayenne, plus a bit of crunch from sesame seeds, this version was made with Spinach pasta, but can be made with a whole range of noodles. Bonus point for adding extra vegetables to the pasta water – broccoli, asparagus, green beans, and cauliflower all work well.

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 (8-inch) sheet nori, toasted*
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
  • Zest of 2 lemons, oranges, limes (or combo)
  • 4 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 bunch chives, minced
  • 1 pound dried spinach noodles
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Crush or cut the toasted nori into the smallest flecks you can manage. In a small bowl, combine most of the nori, the oil, salt, lemon zest, sesame seeds, cayenne, cumin, and most of the chives and set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to the package instructions. Drain well, reserving 1 cup of the noodle water. Return the noodles to the pot and place it over low heat. Stir in a little of the reserved noodle water, most of the nori oil, and the cheese and stir well. Add more noodle water, a splash at a time, to loosen up the noodles as needed.
  3. Serve immediately topped with the remaining nori pieces, the chives, and the remaining nori oil.

  4. *To toast nori, gently wave it over the flame of a gas burner or bake it on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven until crisped. Cool, then crumble.

NOTES

Serves 4 to 6.

 

 

The post 30+ Best Pasta Recipes appeared first on 101 Cookbooks

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Vegetarian Recipes

Ricotta Toast 4 Ways

I love a slice of avocado toast as much as the next person, but have you ever tried Ricotta Toast? Now, that’s what I call a breakfast upgrade! I whip creamy ricotta cheese with lemon zest, olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt to create a luxurious (but budget-friendly!) tangy spread that stores well in the fridge and tastes AMAZING on a slice of crispy sourdough toast. But my favorite part? There are endless ways to dress up ricotta toast, and I’ve shared four delicious variations below!

Overhead view of ricotta toast 4 ways.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this whipped ricotta toast recipe:

  • Whole Milk Ricotta: This is a creamy, slightly sweet, soft cheese made from the whey leftovers from making other types of cheese, like mozzarella. I recommend using whole milk ricotta to get the creamiest texture and best flavor for your toast.
  • Sourdough: You can use any type of bread you’d usually use to make toast. But, in my opinion, the best bread for ricotta toast is one that’s sturdy with a chewy crumb and crisp crust—like sourdough! I buy a whole loaf and slice it myself to get nice, thick slices. Other good options include whole grain, ciabatta, French bread, or bagels!
  • Lemon Zest: I zest a whole lemon and mix it with the creamy cheese. This adds the most delicious citrusy zing to the spread. Budget-friendly tip: Store the zested lemon in your fridge to make lemon water, lemonade, or to use in other recipes (like our homemade lemon curd!)
  • Olive Oil: Adds flavor and helps the cheese to whip up smooth and creamy.
  • Salt: It doesn’t matter if I’m making sweet or savory ricotta on toast; I always add a pinch of salt to make the flavors pop.

Tips & Suggestions!

  1. I highly recommend using whole milk ricotta. The higher fat content helps the cheese to whip up smooth and creamy with a cloud-like texture. Plus, the flavor is unbeatable! Lower fat options can be too watery and won’t whip to the same consistency. BUT if that’s all you have on hand, please don’t waste it! The texture won’t be the same as what’s shown in my process photos below, but it’ll still work as a topping for toast.
  2. Don’t have a hand mixer? Try your food processor! You could also whip it by hand, but it’ll take a lot longer and require some serious arm strength.
  3. It’s pretty common for ricotta to have a small amount of liquid (whey) on top when you open the container. Whenever that happens, I just stir it in before measuring my cheese.
  4. This creamy spread isn’t just for toast! I love it as a dip for fresh vegetables, mixed with pasta for a quick sauce, smothered on a sliced baguette as an appetizer, or as a spread on sandwiches. It’s really versatile and stores well in the fridge for a few days.

Make it Ahead

I love a breakfast I can prep ahead, so you already know this ricotta toast recipe is in my meal prep rotation! Make the whipped ricotta as directed in the recipe card, and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. I usually give it a quick mix to reincorporate any liquid that may have separated before using. Then, all I do is toast my sourdough and add any toppings I fancy that day. It’s almost as easy as my overnight oats for breakfast meal prep. 😉

Ricotta Toast Variations

I think this whipped ricotta toast base recipe is delicious as-is, but it’s even better with toppings! I’ve tested many different topping combinations, but here are four stand-out favorites:

Roasted Grapes, Thyme, and Bacon

This topping is perfect for when you can’t decide between savory or sweet. Toss your grapes in a light coating of olive oil and roast in a 400°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until they become wrinkled and soft. You can cook the bacon however you’d like, but I recommend cooking it in the oven, as it’s already on and hot! Chop the cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces, layer your roasted grapes on top of the ricotta, and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves.

Overhead view of ricotta toast with roasted grapes, thyme and bacon.

Tomatoes, Basil, and Balsamic Reduction

Tomatoes, basil, and balsamic are ALWAYS a winning combination. Any kind of tomatoes work for this topping! Add a drizzle of balsamic reduction on top and fresh basil leaves, and you’re basically eating bruschetta for breakfast! YUM.

Overhead view of ricotta toast with blistered tomatoes, basil, and balsamic reduction.

Strawberry, Mint, and Honey

This whipped ricotta toast topping makes me dream of summer mornings. Bonus points if you grow your own mint and strawberries (season-dependent, of course!). Simply slice fresh strawberries, layer them on top of the toast, and sprinkle with torn mint leaves and a drizzle of honey. The flavors are so light and refreshing, and it really couldn’t be easier to make. You could also use other types of berries, like raspberries or blueberries.

Overhead view of ricotta toast with sliced strawberries, mint, and honey.

Mushrooms, Garlic, Wilted Spinach, and Red Pepper Flakes

For this one-pan topping, sauté sliced mushrooms (any type) in olive oil with a sprinkle of salt for about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute or so, then mix in fresh spinach until wilted. Season to taste before adding to your whipped ricotta with a pinch of red pepper flakes. The juicy mushrooms are irresistible, and the wilted spinach is a great way to sneak in some green veggies for breakfast, too.

Overhead view of ricotta toast with mushrooms, garlic, wilted spinach, and red pepper.

More Topping Ideas!

I honestly can’t think of a single savory or sweet ingredient that wouldn’t work well with this creamy, tangy lemon ricotta toast base recipe. Here are a few more ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Print

Ricotta Toast Recipe

Upgrade your breakfast game with this quick and easy Ricotta Toast recipe. It’s delicious as-is, but we’ve also included four tasty variations to try!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Total Cost ($7.36 recipe / $0.92 serving)
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 to 10 slices
Calories 262kcal
Author Jess Rice

Equipment

  • Hand Mixer

Ingredients

  • 15 oz tub of whole milk ricotta (just shy of 2 cups) $2.67
  • 2 tsp lemon zest* $0.50
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil $0.19
  • ¼ tsp salt $0.01
  • 1 lb loaf of sourdough** $3.99

Instructions

  • Combine ricotta cheese, lemon zest, olive oil and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
  • Using a hand mixer, whip the ingredients together until they are smooth and creamy.
  • Slice sourdough into thick slices and toast.
  • Using a spatula or a butter knife, generously top the toasted sourdough. You can save any extra ricotta in the fridge and use it for easy meal prep throughout the week. The best part about this base recipe is that the ricotta mixture lends itself to both sweet and savory toppings.
  • Top the ricotta with any flavor combinations you love or just enjoy it as-is with a sprinkle of salt and a crank or two of freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy immediately for the best texture.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*I zested one whole lemon for this recipe and then saved the rest of the lemon in a ziplock baggie in the fridge for another recipe that requires lemon juice. I don’t recommend adding the lemon juice to the ricotta for this one, as the mixture will be too wet instead of being light and creamy.

**The bake-at-home sourdough loaves from Kroger are a nice option, but they don’t yield as many slices as a pre-sliced loaf, so use whatever you like best!

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 10g | Sodium: 459mg | Fiber: 1g

how to make Ricotta Toast – step by step photos

Ricotta, olive oil, and lemon zest in a mixing bowl.

Combine 15 oz ricotta cheese, 2 tsp lemon zest, 1 Tbsp olive oil, and ¼ tsp salt in a medium mixing bowl.

A hand mixer whipping ricotta in a mixing bowl.

Using a hand mixer, whip the ingredients together until they are smooth and creamy.

A loaf of sourdough bread cut into slices on a wooden cutting board.

Slice a 1 lb loaf of sourdough into thick slices and toast.

A hand spreading whipped ricotta on slices of sourdough toast.

Using a spatula or a butter knife, generously top the toasted sourdough. You can save any extra ricotta in the fridge and use it for easy meal prep throughout the week. The best part about this base recipe is that the ricotta mixture lends itself to both sweet and savory toppings.

Ricotta toast 4 ways on a wooden serving platter, one topped with strawberries and mint, the next with roasted grapes and bacon, another with blistered tomatoes and basil, and the last with mushrooms and wilted spinach.

Top the ricotta with any flavor combinations you love or just enjoy it as-is with a sprinkle of salt and a crank or two of freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy immediately for the best texture.

Ricotta toast 4 ways on a wooden serving platter, one topped with strawberries and mint, the next with roasted grapes and bacon, another with blistered tomatoes and basil, and the last with mushrooms and wilted spinach.

More Easy Toast Recipes

The post Ricotta Toast 4 Ways appeared first on Budget Bytes.

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