Whether you are preparing a lunch for yourself or inviting some friends over, pasta is a great dish if you want a filling and guaranteed delicious meal. There are thousands of pasta sauces and combinations but we suggest learning how to cook these simple recipes first.
Garlic and olive oil
This recipe is very simple and easy to prepare when you don’t have too much time on your hand. After cooking the pasta, place in a skillet over medium-heat 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup of freshly chopped parsley, one tablespoon of finely chopped garlic and ¾ teaspoon of salt (for 2 servings). Once the garlic is sizzling, remove it from heat and add the mixture to the pasta. It’s that easy!
Tomato sauce
It’s possibly the most common pasta dish prepared at home but it is also quite delicious. In a skillet, throw in 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin oil, 2 tablespoons of finely chopped parsley and 1 ½ teaspoons of finely chopped garlic and cook the mix over medium-high heat. When you notice the garlic sizzling, add 2 cups of chopped and peeled tomatoes previously cooked with their juice or you can simply use the same amount of canned tomatoes and season with salt. Lower the heat and stir occasionally for about 25 minutes or until the liquid evaporates and the oil begins to separate from the sauce. The sauce can be used for about 4 servings.
Creamy sauce
This sauce is heavier but probably more refined than the other two if you want to impress your guests. The recipe is for 4 servings so make sure to double the ingredients if you are having a bigger party. Start by combining ¾ cup of the heavy cream of your choice with 2 tablespoons of butter and ½ teaspoon of salt in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the mixture until thick, stirring for about 4 minutes, then add to it 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley before removing from the heat. Toss the sauce over your pasta in a big plate and add 1/3 cup of grated parmigiano-reggiano.
