Good food does not have to be difficult or take a long time to cook, that is something the understand quite well in Italy. Over the years I have learned some simple pasta's from my favorite Italian chefs and YouTube channels.
Gennaro's Speedy Spaghetti is still one of my favorites way to make a quick lunch, it takes only about 15 to 20 minutes and tastes great with only a few ingredients that I have fresh or in the freezer most of the time. I use a good olive oil to make that sauce and start when the pasta is already cooking, that gives you plenty of time.
It is also something easy to learn your teenagers to cook, it gives them a better option that the fast food they always tend to go for. 😋
Sometimes I would add some lemon or lemon zest, sometimes I leave out the anchovy... you can make your own version depending on what you have available.
This brings me to the second pasta made by Gennaro as a tribute to his deceased friend Carlucio. Fresh pasta with only garlic, parsley, cheese and lemon. And even faster to cook if you don't need to make fresh pasta for an entire family.
That brings me to the last video from Gennaro for now where he makes three pesto's the traditional way, with a pestle and mortar. In my opinion the best way to make pesto.
And if you have some leftover pesto, keep it in the fridge for later use. It is perfect on toast, roast beef or as a dip with grissini.
The next one takes a bit more skill and time, but still easy master. For the recipe, all the tips and trics, just watch the video from Alex
Just like Alex I also like to add at least some black pepper and if I have it on hand, some fresh lemon thyme is perfect on it.
If I have to cook pasta for more people I like to make my sauce before they arrive, for that we made our own version of pasta Puttanesca with rucola and sometimes even Ikea meat balls. But that will be a next post.