This is a hot and spicy pasta dish that is rather light and is usually served as is, though one may add a light sprinkling of Parmesan cheese if desired. This is the ideal dish to whip up when simplicity is paramount. SERVES 4 1 teaspoon salt 1 pound spaghettini 1...

Though technically not a pasta, this egg-shaped squash behaves just like it when cooked, the pulp separates like strands of spaghetti. It is delicious, has considerably fewer calories than spaghetti, and adapts well to most pasta sauces. I prefer it with a delicate...

This is a tasty dish to turn to when you want something light, low fat, and grainy. Leftovers are good cold and make a good portable lunch the next day. SERVES 4 1ВЅ cupsВ bulgurimage Вј cup oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 medium onions, diced 2 small to medium zucchini...

A delicious alternative to the traditional tomato sauce laden version of lasagna. In this dish strips of lasagna are covered with a flavorful kale and cheese mixture, then rolled, and finally topped with a delicate tomato cream sauce. The slightly crunchy texture and...

Risotto is a rice dish cooked in such a way that the rice makes its own creamy, rich sauce. Preparing it takes time and patience, but it is well worth the effort. It is important to regulate the heat so that you cook the risotto at just the right pace, and you should...

It is a good idea to keep some cornmeal, canned tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese on hand so you can put this polenta together on a moments notice. Puttanesca sauce is a robust, brazen tomato sauce (puttana means whore) and it balances the subtle flavor of the polenta...

It's amusing to contemplate how much taste is inextricably linked to texture, and the best illustration of this is pasta. Although most pastas are made from the same ingredients, their various shapes will determine the character of the dish they're in. The ingredients...

This quick summer dish is best prepared at the height of the season, when tomatoes are irresistibly plump and red and fresh basil is available in abundance. This is, to me, one of the best pasta dishes, potent yet simple. SERVES 4 6 ripe plum tomatoes (about 1 pound)...

Swiss chard is a delicious member of the beet family. It has a mild beet flavor and is an excellent source of vitamin A. Both the leaves and the ribs are used in this recipe, and if you are a gardener, you'll find that it is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. You...