Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes

If you are looking for quick and easy dinner ideas, then pasta really is the ideal ingredient. There are so many different types, so many different recipes, and you can cook it in 10-12 minutes! Oh and of course, children love it....

Here are a few quick and easy recipes I use, I hope you find them useful too.

This is a classic Italian dish and it is one of my favourites. A word of warning though - it is not the healthiest recipe (although I do improve it a bit by making it without cream). I would therefore suggest it is used as an occasional treat.

Because this is my own version, and not from a book, the quantities are a bit vague I'm afraid. Hopefully you will get the idea.

For 2 people:

• Around 150g of dried spaghetti, cooked according to the packet instructions
• 1 egg
• some grated parmesan cheese (I guess about 25-50g according to taste), plus extra for serving
• About 4 rashers of pancetta or streaky bacon

Whilst the pasta is cooking, fry the pancetta or bacon over a medium-high heat with a little oil until nice and crispy. Meanwhile, beat the egg and add the cheese into the mixture. It looks disgusting at this stage, but trust me, it will all work out for the best.
As soon as the pasta is cooked and drained, stir in the bacon and the egg mixture. Stir together quickly - the egg will coat the pasta and cook as it does. Serve with extra parmesan and a generous grind of black pepper.

This sauce can be used with absolutely any pasta you choose. Again, this isn't exactly a healthy choice but it is so so good!

These quantities will make enough for about 4 people - you can adjust the quantities for fewer or more people if you want to.

• 200ml double cream
• 50g butter
• 75g grated parmesan cheese

Put the cream and butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the cheese. Pour over your pasta and top with freshly ground black pepper and some extra parmesan if you like.

Tins of chopped tomatoes are the ultimate quick and easy ingredient for pasta sauces. Here are two different things I do with them, both of which are quick, easy and tasty.

Both dishes start the same way. Place the tomatoes with some chopped garlic in a saucepan, bring them to the boil and simmer for a few minutes. Then, add into the sauce either of the following:

1. a large (400g) or two smaller tins of tuna fish (drained), together with a few chopped black olives and a dash of chilli sauce (optional)

2. a pack of ready made meatballs (the Swedish style ones are great) with a few chopped herbs such as basil.

In either case, simmer the sauce for a few more minutes then serve with the pasta of your choice.