Build a Better Pasta: 10 Recipes

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A very simple cooking technique that dates to medieval times: add a piece of pork rind or pancetta into your pasta cooking water. Read more about the technique here .



Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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Photo by thedabble/Flickr CC

Bacon and tomatoes take boring old macaroni to a new level. Save this creamy dish for guests or a special weekend meal, and serve with a big salad to offset the richness. View recipe here.


Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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Homemade pasta wraps around a medallion of harvest-fresh pumpkin filling, as hearty as cheese ravioli. View recipe here .



Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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Photo by Maria Robledo

You can assemble this casserole-style pasta up to a day ahead. The mushroom ragu can also be used in a stew, over polenta, and on pizza. View recipe here .


Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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This recipe—one from the author's family files—features grilled chicken in the classic combination of pasta, tomato sauce, and fresh mozzarella. View recipe here .



Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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The addition of nuts—pine nuts, walnuts, or in this case pistachios—helps to vary regular pasta. View recipe here .



Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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Photo by Maria Robledo


When you break the soft-cooked yolk, it spills onto the pasta like a sauce, bringing all the ingredients together in a single delicious dish. View recipe here .



Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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Sometimes all you really need is a great sauce. This homemade ragu is thick with chunks of sausage, and intensely flavored. View recipe here .



Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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Served over whole wheat linguine and fresh vegetables, this pasta dish was inspired by Thai cuisine. View recipe here .



Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.

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The proportions in this classic pasta are perfected here. View recipe here .



Unique recipes to make the dinner staple really shine.