Simple dinner recipes

There was a time when pasta was thought of as fattening and having little nutritional values but with time the importance of pasta in our diet has been realized by the nutritional experts-especially when prepared using simple pasta recipe. Pasta is a source of complex carbohydrates and fiber.

Carbohydrates are a source of vitamins, energy and minerals for the body. Pasta, prepared using any of simple pasta recipes, is also known to contain low fat contents and calories which vary slightly depending on the ingredients and the simple pasta recipe used for preparing pasta dough. The fats and calories intake to our body when eating pasta is mainly because of the topping and sauce added to pasta and not the pasta itself.

Having mentioned pasta’s nutritional values now you don’t need to worry about your health when eating pasta. Pasta can be easily prepared at your home using simple pasta recipes. Let’s start with the basics of cooking pasta. The basic method adopted by many for preparing pasta is boiling. Alternatively, you can deep or stir fry or bake as well. The necessary equipments required are large pot, a spoon (large) and colander. It is recommended to use perforated insert with a stock large pot.

You can either buy pasta or prepare it fresh at home with the help of simple pasta recipes. When preparing it at home, add a maximum of ˝ cup of semolina flour instead of same quantity of all-purpose flour. Also, if at any point the pasta dough is felt sticky, sprinkle flour on it as well as rolling pin and cutting board.

Before actually moving on to the simple pasta recipe you should follow the given tips to prepare perfect and tasty pasta. You can use processor for mixing pasta dough. It will take less time compared to kneading by hand. When cutting the strips for pasta, save the trimmings and at the end join together, reroll and make additional strips. Before cooking, let the pasta strips for at least 15 min to allow them to firm up. When added in boiling water, use plenty of water and stir the pasta so as to avoid it from sticking together. Add salt to the pasta to firm pasta and bring out its flavor.

There are many simple pasta recipes available. Given below is one of these simple pasta recipes that you can follow to prepare your own pasta at home.

The ingredients that you need for this simple pasta recipe are:
a.    Egg-1 (beaten)
b.    Salt- ˝ tsp(for dough)
c.    Salt-1-2 tbsp(for cooking)
d.    All-purpose flour- 1 cup
e.    Water- 2 tbsp(for dough), 4-6 quarts of water(for cooking)

To prepare, mix together flour and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Now make a hollow in the middle of the flour and add the egg which is slightly beaten to it and mix thoroughly. This would prepare stiff dough. When needed, add 1 or 2 tbsp of water to the mixture. Now knead the dough for about three or four minutes and roll out dough to required thinness. Now cut in strips as desired and let them dry. Cook the pasta strips in the large pot of boiling water. Cook until strips are slightly firm to bite.