One-Pan Pasta

I am here to tell you about a recipe for pasta that you cook in one pan. One pan, people! Dried noodles, sauce ingredients, water—they all get thrown into a big pan and boiled for less than 10 minutes. You end up with a totally delicious dinner, and a party trick.




I know this recipe is making the rounds. I would even bet that it is blowing up in Pinterest (is it?). I imagine that anyone who saw this in Martha Stewart Living this month knew they needed to try it. It is such a simple idea that I am surprised we haven’t all been doing this the whole time.

I like the recipe because it allows you to get dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes. It is also fun for the cook. That first time you make it you wonder if it will all come together. Is this even possible? Then, the noodles begin to soften, the liquid reduces into a creamy sauce, and you know you’ve got a winner. The real brilliance of the recipe is that by cooking the noodles with the sauce, they absorb so much more flavor than a pot of salted water could ever provide.



Salt is your friend in this dish, don’t skimp! You need a big skillet, big enough for the linguine to lie flat across the bottom.

One-Pan Pasta (adapted slightly from Martha Stewart Living)

• 12 ounces linguine
• 12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large
• 1 onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
• 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1/2- 3/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• 2 sprigs basil, plus torn leaves for garnish
• 2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
• kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 1/2 cups water
• Lots of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Combine pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red-pepper flakes, basil, oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and water in a large straight-sided skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning pasta frequently with tongs, until pasta is al dente and water has nearly evaporated, about 9 minutes.

Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide among 4 bowls, and garnish with basil. Serve with oil and Parmesan.

Fresh Peach, Blueberry + Basil Crisp

Yield: serves 2-4
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

4 ripe peaches, peeled and cubed
1 pint of blueberries
8 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup loosely packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons softened butter
ice cream for serving

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a 9x9 baking dish, mix peaches, blueberries and basil with sugar, flour and salt. Toss well and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Use your fingers to add in the softened butter, crumbling it together until it's evenly distributed. Sprinkle the crisp over the peaches and berries. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until crisp is golden and fruit is bubbly.
Serve immediately with ice cream and more fresh basil if desired.

[adapted from my balsamic blueberry crisp]