Pasta Perfection: 3 Real Italian Recipes

Author:: Alessandra Rovati
Publish date:: Jun 3, 2016

KEEP IT HEALTHY, GO ITALIAN...

THE RULES TO LIVE BY

Serve pasta as an appetizer before a main protein course and veggie side.
Include pasta in a one-pot meal. In this case, Italians would never eat a carb-only pasta meal; vegetables and protein are always included.
For a special occasion, treat yourself to a richer pasta dish with béchamel,alfredo, or heavy meat sauce. This is by no means an everyday habit, more a treat to be enjoyed sparingly.

Italian Tips

Use eggs in place of cream to add richness to your pasta sauce. This amps up the protein, and makes a luscious sauce with much less calories.
Add a protein element to take center stage and balance out the pasta.
Use a light PROTEIN-RICH CHEESE, such as ricotta, to take center stage.

RISOTTO STYLE PASTA WITH SALMON

In some Italian regions, pasta is sometimes cooked risotto-style, by slowly adding hot stock. This adds creaminess and flavor to the preparation without adding any extra fats!

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VEGETARIAN CARBONARA WITH MIMOSA OPTION

One of the most famous and least diet-friendly Italian pasta recipes, the classic carbonara, made with eggs and bacon, is strictly forbidden to most of us, whether we are kosher, vegetarian, or simply trying to avoid a bypass.

MORE: A Secret Italian Menu

PAGLIA FIENO WITH RICOTTA, ZUCCHINI, AND HERBS

Welcome spring! Paglia and Fieno translate as “straw and hay,” and describe a mix of spinach tagliatelle with simple egg tagliatelle. You can also make this dish using only one color of tagliatelle. Paglia e Fieno, and egg noodles in general, are considered more “festive” in Italy than regular pasta without eggs. Another shape of pasta (egg-free) that could work well for this recipe is farfalle (butterflies).

MORE: 5 Easy And Elegant Weeknight Pasta Dinners