Ten Minute Pasta For An Easy Pasta Dinner

Ten minute pastais a tasty way to have dinner ready in 10 minutes. The best pasta to use for this recipe is a thin spaghetti, vermicelli or cappellini because they cook so quickly, but feel free to use any pasta you like just remember to adjust the cooking time. Toss some garlic bread in the oven and toss a quick salad to make a complete meal in minutes.

Ingredients: 1 pound package of Thin Spaghetti 1 tsp salt 3 tablespoons of minced garlic from a jar 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup Italian (or plain) bread crumbs 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 3 tablespoons freshly grated Italian parsley Directions:

Fill your pasta pot with 4 quarts of water, add 1 tsp salt and bring to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, gather and measure your other ingredients. When the water starts boiling add your spaghetti and set timer for 10 minutes. While the spaghetti boils, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the breadcrumbs to the hot oil/butter and toast, stirring until lightly golden brown - about 2 - 3 minutes. Then add 1 tablespoon of the minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of the red pepper flakes to the bread crumbs. Stir and toast for another 30 seconds then pour into a bowl, cover and set aside.

Turn down the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and 2 tablespoons minced garlic. Cook just until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden brown - about one minute. Be careful not to over-brown the garlic or it will turn bitter.

Next chop your fresh parsley and set aside.

Your pasta should be about done, when timer goes off drain the pasta in a colander but reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta liquid.

Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat with the olive oil and garlic mixture. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and toss adding reserved pasta water as needed. Transfer the pasta to a serving platter and sprinkle the top with the toasted bread crumbs and fresh parsley. Serve warm.

This makes a great meal by itself with a little salad and bread, but you can easily add some leftover vegetables and/or some cooked meat for a heartier meal. A quick and easy way to get rid of some leftovers.
If you liked Ten Minute Pasta, try the other quick pasta recipes.

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Quick Creamy Gorgonzola Sauce

This is a quick sauce you can make in your microwave. I use a large pyrex measuring dish with a pouring spout and blend it smooth with an immersion blender. Makes a quick sauce in one dish for easy cleanup ? just pour sauce over pasta when its ready.

5 oz gorgonzola cheese ? cup milk 3 tablespoons butter ? cup cream 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese Salt & pepper to taste

Pour the milk into your pan or pyrex bowl and add three tablespoons of butter cut into pieces. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat just until the butter melts and the milk is very warm. Stir in the gorgonzola and blend until the cheese melts into the milk to make a paste. Add the cream and blend smooth with an immersion blender or pour the mixture into a blender and blend away the cheese lumps to form a thick, smooth sauce.

Stir in the Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over cooked pasta, toss to coat pasta and serve immediately. You can let the sauce cool and keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days ? just reheat in the microwave when ready.

Along with Gorgonzola sauce, try these other sauces...

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