Let us get one thing straight. I am not a nutrition specialist. Therefore, my statement may not be 100% accurate. However, I do love pasta and I want to spread this love to the whole world.
I asked my friend, Mr. Gold, what pasta is, and he kindly replied as follows:
Pasta is a type of Italian food made from wheat flour and water. It is typically made into various shapes and then cooked by boiling. Pasta is a staple food in many countries and is often served with sauce, vegetables, and meat or cheese. There are many different types of pasta, including spaghetti, macaroni, fettuccine, and linguine, and they can be made with a variety of different ingredients and served in a wide range of dishes.
But I assume that most of you, my two to three readers, already knew that. One thing that I would add is that pasta should and needs to be boiled in salt water. For some bizarre reason, people tend to forget that. Even in some high-end places.
What are my favorite pasta dishes? Hard to say. If I’d need to mention three then the list would be as follows:
- Pasta Carbonara
- Pasta Bolognese
- Pasta with catfish
The first one would be a straightforward one, right?
Pasta carbonara is a traditional Italian pasta dish made with eggs, cheese, bacon or pancetta, and black pepper. The ingredients are combined with cooked pasta to create a creamy sauce. The pasta is usually spaghetti, but other long, thin pasta shapes such as linguine or fettuccine can also be used.
To make pasta carbonara, the pasta is cooked according to the package instructions, then drained and set aside. In a separate pan, the bacon or pancetta is cooked until crispy, then removed from the pan and set aside. The eggs and cheese are beaten together in a bowl, then added to the pan with the bacon fat. The cooked pasta is added to the pan with the egg and cheese mixture, and the bacon or pancetta is crumbled on top. The dish is then tossed to coat the pasta in the sauce and served hot, garnished with additional cheese and black pepper.
Input by my good friend Mr. Gold.
I cook carbonara myself as well. But I also like to order it in different places just to see and taste the difference. As you can see above, every place or every chef has its/his own unique take on this magnificent dish.
Should I comment on Bolognese? I will. Or rather Mr. Gold will.
Pasta Bolognese, also known as spaghetti Bolognese, is a popular pasta dish made with a meat-based sauce. The sauce, called ragù, is typically made with ground beef, onions, carrots, celery, and tomatoes, and is simmered for several hours to allow the flavors to meld together. The sauce is then served over spaghetti or another type of pasta, and is often garnished with grated cheese.
Bolognese is my first love when it comes to cooking. I watched a couple of videos on YouTube on how to cook it properly and the one recipe that stood out to me was by Mr. Marco Pierre White. It was not because of his way of cooking, but because of what he said. Which was: “Recipes are not step-by-step instructions, they are more like inspirations”. Okay, that is not verbatim, but I think you may have gotten the idea. And I took it to heart.
And ever since I started cooking, I try not to follow instructions, but trust my previous experience with taste. It does not work every time, but in most cases it does.
The last one of my top 3 pasta dishes. Pasta with catfish. I have eaten it in only one place so far. At a rather interesting establishment in Jelgava, Latvia called “Noliktava No.2”. The owner there makes his own pasta. Catfish is fresh and cooked to perfection. Those who have had the chance to eat it can consider themselves lucky.
I asked Mr. Gold what he thinks of my obsession with pasta and catfish. He did not dismiss it. On the contrary, he gave a recipe that we should try out for ourselves. I will share it.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces of pasta (such as spaghetti or linguine)
- 1 pound of catfish fillets
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup of fresh spinach
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the catfish fillets to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they are opaque and flake easily with a fork.
- Remove the catfish from the pan and set aside. Add the cherry tomatoes to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until they are starting to soften.
- Add the spinach to the pan and cook until it is wilted.
- Cut the catfish into small pieces and add it back to the pan with the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the catfish and vegetables. Toss everything together to combine.
- Serve the pasta with grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
Let me know if you liked it. I know I will.
Happy cooking.
Kind regards,
Olaaf
