Celebrate National Pasta Month at Basta Pasta!
Absolutely nothing matches the flavor and comfort of authentic Italian pasta dishes. October is National Pasta Month! Here are three delicious, and fairly easy, pasta recipes to try out this weekend.
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a delicious, creamy dish that feels decadent while being amazingly simple. The sauce is a simple combination of egg, bacon (on pancetta), garlic, and cheese. While the pasta is cooking, mix 2 eggs with about a cup of freshly grated cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano, if you have it), and set it aside. Saute 4 oz of cubed bacon till it is cooked through then add 4 cloves of chopped garlic. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the liquid to the side, then add the pasta to the bacon and garlic, tossing to coat each strand. Remove from the heat and whisk in the egg mixture – don’t worry, the heat of the pan and the pasta will cook the egg. Once it thickens, you can thin it slightly with the reserved pasta water if desired.
Pasta alla Norma
If you like eggplant parmesan, this is a dish you absolutely have to try! This dish is fried or sauteed eggplant, combined with tomato sauce, cheese, and basil. You start by slicing and salting firm, fresh eggplant (remove the fluffy, seedy centers) and leaving them to sit so the moisture is pulled out. Then fry up the eggplant slices in olive oil. Once the eggplant is fried, add your tomato sauce (or tomato sauce ingredients if you prefer to make it from scratch) and fresh diced basil. Let it all simmer while your pasta cooks, then drain the pasta and toss it into the sauce. Top with grated cheese and serve.
Cacio e Pepe
If you want classy and effortless, this is the pasta dish for you. It is a simple combination of the title ingredients: cheese (cacio) and pepper (pepe). A roman dish originally, this masterpiece will up your mac and cheese game for sure. Start by cooking your pasta and reserving about a cup of the water when you drain it. Return the pasta and water to the pot and add about 3 tablespoons of butter, 1 cup of Pecorino Romano cheese, and a teaspoon of black pepper. Stir them over low heat until everything melts into a creamy sauce, then enjoy.
Celebrate National Pasta Month at Basta Pasta
For more than 12 years, Basta Pasta has given Maryland diners delicious Italian food from local and fresh ingredients. Enjoy delicious pasta dishes, unlimited salad and breadsticks, and fine wine at one of our locations in Timonium, Fallston, Perry Hall, or Eldersburg. Contact us online or give us a call at the location-specific phone number listed here. Read our menu and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you don’t feel like going out, order our signature crab cakes online and enjoy delicious Basta Pasta from home!