When planning my meals each week, I usually start with the list of main dishes. Then I decide if I think things will be in need of side dishes. Once of my favorite sides to make is a quick pasta – like this Garlic Parm Pasta. It is simple enough to go with lots of different things, but definitely is not bland or boring in any way.
This pasta dish is so easy to make, you will also find yourself making it for lunch every so often. Just cut it all down to the portion you want to make and you are going to have a wonderful – and quick lunch. This goes with pork, chicken or steak and is great as a make ahead, as well.
I prefer linguini for this pasta dish – slightly bigger than spaghetti but not so far as a fettuccini. You could also go for a bucatini – though I can’t always find that in my grocery so I usually go with the linguini. The real point is that this a long pasta dish, and not really meant for the short pasta.
The use of the pasta water is an important part of this pasta dish. Using the salted, starchy water that remains after the pasta is cooked through, is what brings the butter, garlic and parmesan cheese together. The starch is what thickens it all. So just ladle out or use a glass measuring cup to scoop out the cup of pasta water before you dump the pot over into the colander.
Now Let’s Get Cookin’!
Garlic Parm Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 lb Linguini or other long pasta
- ½ cup Butter
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Coarse Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Dried Basil
- 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Start water boiling for pasta. Add salt to preference
- In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add oil. Once hot, add garlic and lightly pan fry (do not let it go dark brown). Reduce heat to medium and add butter, and onion powder. Once fully melted reduce to medium-low.
- Add pasta to boiling water and cook as directed on the package. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Then drain pasta in colander.
- Add pasta water to butter, along with basil and black pepper. Stir to combine then add pasta.
- Add parmesan cheese and toss to coat. Let cook for about 5 minutes (sauce will thicken), stirring regularly.
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This sounds so delicious!