What are the Best Gourmet Pasta Dishes to Try?
We’ve picked out the absolute best pasta dishes that are sure to wow your guests, whether you’re hosting a dinner party or just sprucing up your menu. Plus, we’ve got some handy tips to make your meal unforgettable—and even included allergen info to keep everyone happy!
Best Gourmet Pasta Dishes to Try:
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Lasagna
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- Pasta Carbonara
- Ravioli
- Pasta alla Norma
Ready to dive in and learn more about them? Let’s go!
What is Pasta?
Pasta is a simple and delicious food made by mixing wheat flour and water into dough, which is then boiled or sometimes baked. For fresh pasta, eggs are often added to the mix to make it even tastier.
It’s mostly known as an Italian staple (most pasta recipes come from Italy), but pasta likely has roots in Asian noodles that made their way to Europe from China in the 13th century.
Pasta is a great source of carbohydrates, with some fiber and protein, and it comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Spaghetti
- Tagliatelle
- Fettuccine
- Penne
- Farfalle
- Macaroni
- Orzo
- Rigatoni
- Fusilli
- Ziti
- Orecchiette
- Rotini
With so many options, there’s a pasta shape for every dish!
Spaghetti Bolognese
What is Spaghetti Bolognese?
Spaghetti Bolognese is a classic pasta dish made with spaghetti (long, thin pasta) and a rich sauce of minced beef, tomatoes, onions, bacon, red wine, and herbs. It’s often topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This hearty meal is one of Italy’s most famous exports and is believed to have originated in Imola, a city near Bologna, in the late 1800s. That’s when the first mention of its signature ragu sauce appeared.
Top Tip
Want your Bolognese to be packed with flavor? Try adding a pinch of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice to your tomatoes before cooking to enhance their taste. A splash of Worcestershire sauce in your ragu can also give it extra depth and richness.
Allergen Alert
- Pasta: Typically made from wheat flour, which contains gluten—a common allergen. Fresh pasta also includes eggs, another major allergen.
- Red Wine: Often used in the sauce, it may contain sulfites, one of the 14 major allergens.
- Celery: Some recipes call for celery, which is also a recognized allergen.
- Parmesan Cheese: Frequently served with the dish, Parmesan is made from milk, another major allergen.
If you’re cooking for someone with allergies, keep these ingredients in mind to make the dish safe for everyone!
Lasagne
What is Lasagne?
Lasagne is a type of pasta that comes in flat, wide sheets. However, when most people say “lasagne,” they’re talking about the delicious layered dish made with those sheets.
The classic lasagne layers include a rich ragu (a seasoned beef and tomato sauce) and creamy béchamel sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese. Some variations add veggies, mushrooms, different meats, or cheeses like ricotta and mozzarella.
It’s baked in a rectangular or square dish and sliced into portions to serve. Lasagne originated in Naples, Italy, but the first written reference to a dish like it actually appeared in a 14th-century English cookbook!
Top Tip
Want perfect lasagne slices? Try partially cooking it, letting it cool, and then finishing the cooking process when you’re ready to serve. This helps the layers set nicely, so they don’t turn into a messy pile.
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Allergen Alert
Lasagne contains several major allergens:
- Pasta: Made with wheat flour (contains gluten) and often eggs.
- Ragu: May include red wine, which could contain sulfites.
- Béchamel Sauce: Typically made with milk and flour (contains gluten).
- Cheese Topping: Made from milk.
- Some recipes also include celery, another allergen.
If you’re cooking for someone with allergies, it’s worth double-checking your ingredients!
Fettuccine Alfredo
What is Fettuccine Alfredo?
Fettuccine Alfredo, also called fettuccine al burro (fettuccine with butter), is a simple yet indulgent pasta dish. It’s made with flat, ribbon-like fettuccine pasta tossed with butter and Parmesan cheese. When mixed, the ingredients emulsify into a creamy, silky sauce.
The “Alfredo” in the name comes from Alfredo di Lelio, who famously prepared the dish with flair at his Rome restaurant in the mid-20th century.
In America, many recipes for Fettuccine Alfredo include cream and other extras, but traditionalists in Italy consider this a twist on their rustic fettuccine al burro. For them, sticking to the basics is key to making an authentic version of this beloved dish.
Top Tip
For a perfectly combined sauce, save a ladle of the salty pasta water (it should be as salty as the Mediterranean!) and mix it with the butter and Parmesan when tossing the pasta. The starchy water helps bind everything together beautifully.
Allergen Alert
- Pasta: Usually made with wheat flour (contains gluten) and, if fresh, often contains eggs.
- Butter and Parmesan: Both are milk-based, and milk is a common allergen.
Keep these in mind if you’re cooking for anyone with allergies!
Pasta Carbonara
What is Pasta Carbonara?
Pasta Carbonara is a classic dish made with pasta like spaghetti or penne, tossed in a rich, creamy sauce with ham or pancetta. The traditional Roman recipe keeps it simple, using eggs, a hard cheese like Pecorino or Parmesan, cured pork, and black pepper. This delicious dish comes from the Lazio region of Italy.
Top Tip
Let your eggs come to room temperature before using them. Cold eggs can cause lumps in your sauce, and the only lumps in carbonara should be the delicious bits of cured pork!
Barilla Penne Pasta
Barilla Penne Pasta, made from high-quality durum wheat, offers a classic texture perfect for pairing with your favorite sauces and recipes.
Allergen Alert
- Pasta: Usually made from wheat flour (contains gluten) and, if fresh, often contains eggs.
- Carbonara Sauce: Made with milk and eggs, which are both major allergens.
If you’re cooking for someone with allergies, be sure to check your ingredients!
Also Read: What Gourmet Appetizers can Impress my Guests?
Ravioli
What is Ravioli?
Ravioli is a type of pasta filled with delicious ingredients. Shaped like little envelopes, ravioli can be stuffed with a variety of fillings—one popular choice is ricotta cheese and spinach, often seasoned with nutmeg, black pepper, spices, and sometimes a hint of lemon zest. The exact filling ingredients can vary by region.
Ravioli has been mentioned in literature from both Prato and Venice as far back as the 1500s, and it’s typically served in broth or a sauce.
Top Tip
Make sure your ravioli filling is well-seasoned! Since it’s wrapped in pasta, the flavors can sometimes get a bit muted. If the filling isn’t seasoned enough, it may taste bland once cooked.
Allergen Alert
- Pasta: Made from wheat flour (contains gluten) and, if fresh, often contains eggs.
- Filling: Many fillings, like ricotta, contain milk, another major allergen.
Always check the ingredients if you’re cooking for someone with allergies!
Also Read: What Gourmet Appetizers can Impress my Guests?
Pasta alla Norma
What is Pasta alla Norma?
Originally called pasta con le melanzane (pasta with eggplant), Pasta alla Norma is a classic Sicilian dish named after the opera Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, a composer from Catania, where the dish was created.
The recipe typically uses pasta like ziti or rigatoni, paired with eggplant, tomatoes, herbs, spices, capers, and cheese.
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Top Tip
While many recipes suggest frying the eggplant, roasting it is a cleaner and easier option. It also makes the dish lighter and less greasy since eggplant tends to soak up a lot of oil.
Allergen Alert
- Pasta: Made from wheat flour (contains gluten) and, if fresh, often includes eggs.
- Other ingredients like cheese (milk), red wine or vinegar (sulphites), and anchovies (fish) are also common allergens in this dish.
Make sure to double-check the ingredients if you’re cooking for anyone with allergies!
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