Pasta

I've loved Pasta as long as I can remember.

When I was a kid, my mom would let my brother, sister, and me pick out what we wanted for dinner on our birthdays. My go-to meal was almost always spaghetti.

To that end, here are six yummy pasta recipes to help you through the day, including Tofu and Spinach Stuffed Shells and Roast Veggie Pasta. Enjoy!

ONE-POT PASTA WITH RICOTTA AND LEMON

This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yumminess, Ali wrote, "This elegant, bright pasta dish comes together in about the same amount of time it takes to boil noodles and heat up a jar of store-bought marinara. The no-cook sauce is a 50-50 mix of ricotta and Parmesan, with the zest and juice of one lemon thrown in. That’s it. To make it more filling, add peas, asparagus or spinach in the last few minutes of the pasta boiling, or stir in fresh arugula or watercress with the sauce in Step 3. It’s a weeknight and for-company keeper any way you stir it."

Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

This can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020290-one-pot-pasta-with-ricotta-and-lemon. While you're there, you might also want to subscribe to The New York Times cooking enewsletter (if you haven't already). I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Speaking of guides, check out Alison Roman's guide, "How to Make Mac and Cheese." Just glancing at this might just cause you to want to head for the kitchen (but really, you should read it).

And now, on to the recipe. Yum!

Ingredients

Kosher salt

1 pound short, ribbed pasta, like gemelli or penne

1 cup whole-milk ricotta (8 ounces)

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino (2 ounces), plus more for serving

1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest plus 1/4 cup lemon juice (from 1 to 2 lemons)

Black pepper

Red-pepper flakes, for serving

1/4 cup thinly sliced or torn basil leaves, for serving (optional)

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.

In the same pot, make the sauce: Add the ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest and juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir until well combined.

Add 1/2 cup pasta water to the sauce and stir until smooth. Add the pasta and continue to stir vigorously until the noodles are well coated. Add more pasta water as needed for a smooth sauce.

Divide the pasta among bowls and top with some of the sauce that’s pooled at the bottom of the pot. Garnish with grated Parmesan, black pepper, red-pepper flakes and basil, if using.

SHEET PAN MAC AND CHEESE WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS

This is from Grace Elkus at TheKitchn. For this recipe, Grace wrote, "Here, I’m sharing my favorite iteration: sheet pan mac and cheese with Brussels sprouts. You’ll cook the noodles and make the cheese sauce while the veggies roast, then mix everything together, return it to the sheet pan, and pop it under the broiler until every bite is crispy-creamy. It’s the ultimate mash-up of two of my favorite foods — and my only regret is I didn’t think of it sooner."

Prep time: 20 minutes; Cook time: 35 minutes to 40 minutes; Serves: 4 to 6

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/sheet-pan-mac-cheese-brussels-sprouts-23215360.

Ingredients

1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water

1 pound Brussels sprouts (about 15 large)

2 tablespoons olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

12 ounces dried cavatappi pasta

4 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded (1 cup)

4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, preferably white, shredded (1 cup)

1 ounce Parmesan cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 cups whole or 2% milk

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

Arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat the oven to 425°F. Bring a Dutch oven or large pot of heavily salted water to a boil.

Meanwhile, trim and halve 1 pound Brussels sprouts (quarter if large). Place on a rimmed baking sheet (make sure to include any stray leaves). Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and several grinds black pepper. Toss to combine, then arrange in a single layer cut-side down.

Place the baking sheet on the lower rack. Roast until the sprouts are crispy, tender, and browned in spots, 14 to 16 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the pasta and grate the cheeses.

Add 12 ounces cavatappi to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Grate the following cheeses on the large holes of a box grater, keeping them separate on the cutting board: 4 ounces Gruyère cheese (about 1 cup), 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 cup), and 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup).

When the Brussels sprouts are ready, remove the baking sheet from the oven.

When the pasta is ready, drain and set aside. Return the pot to the stovetop, add 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, and melt over medium-low heat. Transfer 1 tablespoon into a small heatproof bowl. Add 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the remaining butter in the pot and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until fragrant and foaming, about 2 minutes.

While whisking constantly, slowly pour in 3 cups whole or 2% milk and whisk until the flour is completely dissolved. Bring just to a full simmer over medium heat, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, whisking frequently, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 4 minutes.

Remove the pot from the heat. Add the Gruyère and cheddar cheeses, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and several grinds black pepper. Whisk until smooth and the cheese is melted. Taste and season with more salt as needed (likely about 1/2 teaspoon kosher). Heat the broiler to high.

Add the cavatappi and roasted Brussels sprouts to the pot and stir until well-coated in the sauce. Transfer to the same baking sheet used to roast the Brussels and spread into an even layer.

Add 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese to the reserved bowl of melted butter and stir to combine. Sprinkle the pasta with the bread crumb mixture. Broil until the bread crumbs are golden-brown, 2 to 4 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

TOFU AND SPINACH STUFFED SHELLS

This comes from the April/May 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 40. It begins, “Olive oil–poached garlic gives tofu a deep, mellow flavor, while miso and vinegar provide a cheese-like tang.” Serves 6.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 oz. jumbo pasta shells

12 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced

1/4 cup olive oil

1 16-oz. block firm tofu, drained, rinsed, and patted dry

2 Tbs. unpasteurized apple cider vinegar

2 tsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. white miso

5 oz. baby spinach leaves (6 cups)

1 24-oz. jar prepared pasta sauce

2 Tbs. chopped Kalamata olives, optional

2 Tbs. chopped green olives, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cook pasta shells according to package directions. Drain, rinse, and drain again, then place on clean kitchen towel to cool and dry.

Bring garlic and olive oil to a simmer in small skillet over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until garlic is soft and golden. Remove from heat, and set aside.

Crumble tofu into bowl of food processor, and blend with vinegar, lemon juice, miso, garlic, and oil until smooth. Transfer to medium bowl.

Heat large saucepan over medium heat. Add spinach and 2 Tbs. water, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until leaves are wilted. Transfer to strainer, and squeeze out excess liquid. Roughly chop, and stir into tofu mixture.

Spoon 2 Tbs. filling into each pasta shell, and place in single layer in large baking dish. Cover with pasta sauce, sprinkle with olives (if using), and bake 45 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

nutritional information Per 3 stuffed shells: Calories: 343; Protein: 13 g; Total Fat: 14 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 42 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 562 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 11 g; Vegan

LEMON-GARLIC LINGUINE

This yumminess is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Ali wrote, "This bright and creamy pasta is a weeknight go-to that can be embellished with seared scallops, shrimp or mushrooms to make it something special. Grated garlic, lemon zest and black pepper sizzle and bloom in melted butter to which starchy pasta water is added to create a thick sauce. A hit of lemon juice at the very end keeps it punchy. Linguine, which is not as thin as spaghetti or as thick as fettuccine, works well here, but if you have another pasta shape on-hand, feel free to swap it in."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025371-lemon-garlic-linguine. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Why? First off, it makes it easier to view the recipes without worrying about a paywall. Then there's the fact that they have loads of fantastic recipes, great guides, and more. Well worth the price of admission.

Ingredients

Salt

1 pound linguine

8 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 garlic cloves, peeled

1 large lemon

Black pepper

Grated Parmesan, crushed red pepper, parsley or a combination, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente. Reserve 2 cups pasta water, then strain the noodles.

Dry the pot, then return to low heat and add the butter. While the butter melts, grate the garlic over the butter. Stir until the garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Finely grate the zest of the lemon into the pot to taste, and add a few grinds of black pepper. When the pepper is sizzling, add 1 cup pasta water and the cooked pasta. Increase heat to medium-high and toss vigorously. As the liquid in the pot evaporates, add another few tablespoons of pasta water. Repeat, tossing vigorously and adding pasta water, until the pasta is glossed in a thick sauce, 1 to 2 minutes.

Remove from heat, squeeze in the juice of the whole lemon, and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Optionally, top with Parmesan, more lemon zest (if any remains), crushed red pepper and/or parsley as you like.

ROAST VEGGIE PASTA

This comes from Bob McDonald at AllRecipes, and begins, "Wonderful rustic Italian style pasta dish! Meal can be dressed up or down with accompaniments to this tasty pasta."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes: Servings: 3

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/45644/roasted-veggie-pasta/.

Ingredients

1/4 pound fresh asparagus

2 red bell pepper, sliced

1/4 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced

10 cloves roasted garlic, chopped

1/2 tomato, quartered

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 ounces dry fettuccini noodles

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons tapenade

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare asparagus by trimming woody base and cutting diagonally into 4 inch pieces.

In a roasting pan, combine asparagus, bell pepper, mushrooms, roasted garlic and tomato. Sprinkle with rosemary and oregano, then drizzle with olive oil. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Toss with Parmesan cheese, tapenade and roasted vegetables.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES (SPRING)

This is from Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network's website, and from Everyday Italian. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/penne-with-asparagus-and-cherry-tomatoes-spring-recipe-1939598.

Note This recipe originally called for chicken stock. However, since I'm posting this in a vegetarian blog, I've exchanged the chicken stock with vegetable stock.

Ingredients

8 ounces penne pasta

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups (about 9 ounces) cherry tomatoes

1 cup shelled fresh peas

1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable stock

1 cup grated Parmesan

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.

Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.