What Dishes to Prepare with Pasta
12 April 2010
Pasta, such as spaghetti, penne, linguini and fusilli is very popular as a quick, easy and tasty meal whatever the occasion. Most children like pasta and will be tempted by the different shapes. There are lots of dishes with pasta: different garnishes, appetizers, salads. You can boil, fry, stew and even stuff pasta.
Most pasta is made from durum wheat and has a similar nutritional content regardless of shape, containing B group vitamins, some fibre and iron. Wholemeal pasta is higher in fibre and iron than white varieties. Fresh pasta contains more water than dried, but otherwise there is very little nutritional difference.
Preparation
Pasta is a very useful basis for all types of dishes. It is naturally low in fat, however, some pasta dishes can be very high in fat especially if cheese or cream sauces are used.
Coloured pasta
Coloured pasta contains tomato puree, squid ink or spinach to give the typical colours. It may have a slightly higher fibre content than white pasta.
Dishes with pasta
Cheesy mushroom and tomato sauce with pasta stars
Orzo with creamy mushroom and cheese sauce