PASTA, NOODLES, COUSCOUS & RICE

It is a compliment to the Italians that they have spent centuries inventing many different varieties of pastas. Likewise, the Indians have spent even longer refining their rice dishes and the Chinese have been producing fine noodle dishes since time began!

It is our duty as citizens of the world, to try them all, starting (in the case of pastas) with simple spaghetti and working through fusilli, tagliatelli, vermicelli and anything else that takes your fancy!

Basic pasta is made from Durum wheat semolina and fresh eggs. Most varieties are now available fresh in delicatessens or larger supermarkets. It is a good idea, though, to keep some dried packets in stock for quick and simple meals. Just cook them in boiling water according to the instructions on the packet until they are tender. You will find an increasing variety of sauces such as Neapolitan, Provençale etc., which are ideal to make your pastas more tasty and interesting.

* PASTA, NOODLES, COUSCOUS & RICE *

COUSCOUS RECIPES

Gammon with Cumberland Sauce

This delicious recipe for Gammon with Cumberland Sauce will have your taste buds working overtime. Perfect for entertaining or as a family meal

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 2 Hours
Smoked Snapper with Lemon Couscous

Light, delicious, east to make, Smoked Snapper with Lemon Couscous is one of those unusual recipes that will delight guests and family alike.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes

GNOCCHI RECIPES

Gammon with Cumberland Sauce

This delicious recipe for Gammon with Cumberland Sauce will have your taste buds working overtime. Perfect for entertaining or as a family meal

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 2 Hours
Gnocchi, Ham and Pea Casserole

Gnocchi, Ham and Pea Casserole hits the right spot for me. It's creamy and sumptuous and full of flavour, but it's also very quick and easy to make.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes

NOODLES RECIPES

Beef Chow Mein

Chow Mein is a quick, versatile & tasty way to cook egg noodles. You can add almost any ingredient you want such as vegetables, fish, meat or poultry

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Chicken Chow Mein

In southern China from where this recipe originates, the words Chow Mein literally mean "stir-fried noodles" and it is a very popular dish worldwide.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Gammon with Cumberland Sauce

This delicious recipe for Gammon with Cumberland Sauce will have your taste buds working overtime. Perfect for entertaining or as a family meal

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 2 Hours
Lemon Sevai

Lemon Sevai comes from the Tamil word 'Sevai' meaning Rice Vermicelli or rice noodles. This recipe is very easy to make and easy to digest.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 15 Minutes
Pork Patties With Sweet Chilli And Noodles

Pork Patties With Sweet Chilli And Noodles is a healthy and authentic Asian dish that's far better than a takeaway - and ready in less time.

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 15 Minutes
Sesame Noodles with Chicken

Sesame Oil is a true delight and this recipe for Sesame Noodles with Chicken makes full use of it's rich flavours.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Vermicelli Upma

Vermicelli Upma is sometimes known as Semiya Upma since Semiya means Vermicelli. This recipe makes a nutritious breakfast or light meal.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes

PASTA RECIPES

Cauliflower and Bacon Pasta

Cauliflower and Bacon Pasta - just full of great ingredients in one pasta bake? This family-friendly gratin is both comforting and filling.

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 35 Minutes
Cheesy Spinach and Penne Bake

Cheesy Spinach and Penne Bake is one of those "more-ish" recipes that will get you reaching for the serving spoon more than once

Preparation: 40 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Creamy Ham, Leek and Mushroom Spaghetti

Creamy Ham, Leek and Mushroom Spaghetti proves that, for slimmers, those mouth-watering creamy pasta dishes needn't be on the 'forbidden' menu list.

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 15 Minutes
Easy Oven Pasta

Easy Oven Pasta is, as you might imagine, really easy. It takes just 5 minutes to prepare and then you can throw it in the oven and forget about it.

Preparation: 7 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Farfalle with Turkey Sausage, Mushrooms & Peas

Farfalle with Turkey Sausage, Mushrooms & Peas is a pasta dish that suits my palate well. The variety of textures and taste make for a satisfying meal

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 25 Minutes
Fried Spaghetti and Pork

Fried Spaghetti and Pork is a cunning combination of Italian and Oriental cooking that will truly delight your taste buds

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 15 Minutes
Gammon with Cumberland Sauce

This delicious recipe for Gammon with Cumberland Sauce will have your taste buds working overtime. Perfect for entertaining or as a family meal

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 2 Hours
Graham's Goulash

Graham's Goulash is so called because a normal goulash takes ages to cook, but sometimes we find we can cut corners and speed up the process!

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 1 Hour 35 Minutes
Macaroni and Cauliflower Cheese

Macaroni and Cauliflower Cheese is the ultimate 'comfort' food, but is also ideal when cooking for a family since it provides the kids with vegetables

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Macaroni Cheese

Macaroni Cheese is definitely one of my favourites and is really very easy to make. No need to serve anything with it... just on its own is fine!

Preparation: 20 Minutes
Cooking: 25 Minutes
Pan Fried Salmon with Spaghettini Pesto

Pan Fried Salmon with Spaghettini Pesto is a lovely simple meal that is full of flavour and has the added benefit of being very quick to prepare.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Pasta and Artichoke Salad

In using whole wheat pasta cooked "al dente" in this recipe for Pasta & Artichoke Salad, you will considerably reduce the glycemic index of your meal.

Preparation: 25 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Pasta and Fresh Tomato Sauce

This recipe is an ideal way of using Fresh Tomato Sauce You will notice a distinct difference between your own tomato sauce and that found in jars.

Preparation: 4 Minutes
Cooking: 8 Minutes
Pasta and Pesto

This recipe for Pasta and Pesto is just a very easy and cheap idea for a quick meal or light lunch.

Preparation: 3 Minutes
Cooking: 8 Minutes
Pasta Jumble

Pasta Jumble is an unusual way of serving pasta. It looks very professional but is, as you will see, quite simple.

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes
Pasta Salad

Whether you take Pasta Salad on a picnic, in your lunchbox, or eat it at home, this is a perfect quick pasta salad - light and lip-smacking.

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 5 Minutes
Pasta, Sausage and Bacon Salad

Pasta, Sausage and Bacon Salad is inspired by my low-fat Tasty Pasta Salad recipe, with "added extras" to suit hungry mouths or a young family.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes
Prawn and Peas on Capellini

Capellini is a very thin variety of Italian pasta. Like spaghetti, it is rod-shaped, in the form of long strands, but is sold in a nest-like shape.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Sicilian-style Cauliflower with Wholemeal Pasta

Sicilian-style Cauliflower with Wholemeal Pasta is a great summer dish either at lunch or on a fine summer evening.

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Spaghetti a la Carbonara

If proof was ever needed that pasta need not be uninteresting, Spaghetti a la Carbonara is it! To me, this dish is the monarch of the pastas.

Preparation: 20 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes
Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti Bolognese has probably caused more wars than the black death! Why? Because everybody's recipe is the best - much better than anyone else's!

Preparation: 20 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Tasty Pasta Salad

Tasty Pasta Salad is a low-fat, zesty salad, perfect for a summer lunch (or lunchbox). You can vary this basic recipe by adding other ingredients.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Three Cheese Macaroni

Three Cheese Macaroni is a lovely variation that uses the exquisite flavour of English Stilton Cheese to really give this dish a bite.

Preparation: 20 Minutes
Cooking: 50 Minutes
Three Ingredient Spaghetti

Three Ingredient Spaghetti is known throughout Italy as Cacio e Pepe which literally means "Cheese and Pepper". It is just stupidly simple!

Preparation: 3 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Tomato, Basil and Almond Pasta

Tomato, Basil and Almond Pasta celebrates the tastes of Sicily. This delicious vegetarian summer pasta can be served warm or at room temperature.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Zesty Pasta Salad

Zesty Pasta Salad is a low-fat, zesty salad that is perfect for a light summer lunch. You can use other options to vary it with your own ingredients

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes

RICE RECIPES

Boiled Rice

Rice is increasingly being used in place of potatoes. Long grain rice (like Basmati) in savoury dishes, and short grain rice in desserts.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 15 Minutes
Butter Roasted Monkfish Tail with Sweet Pepper Risotto

Making risotto is a gentle process but it can be served with a variety of accompaniments... working particularly well in this recipe with monkfish

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 50 Minutes
Carrot Pudding

Carrot Pudding is a really tasty dessert made from fresh grated carrots and rice. Also considered auspicious and offered to the Hindu gods.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 45 Minutes
Chicken and Pea Risotto

Chicken and Pea Risotto is a light and summery risotto recipe that can be rustled up in no time.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 35 Minutes
Chicken Biryani

Biryani is a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice (usually basmati) and meat, fish, eggs or vegetables.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 45 Minutes
Chili with Rice

Whilst I eat my chili very hot, this recipe is for a medium strength chili which you can adjust as necessary with more or less chili powder.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Chinese Fried Rice

Chinese Fried Rice is that wonderful colourful assortment of rice and vegetables. And it is just as tasty the following day as a cold rice salad.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 10 Minutes
Coconut Rice

Coconut Rice (white rice and coconut milk or coconut flakes) is a very easy to make dish that makes for an excellent breakfast or an evening snack.

Preparation: 2 Minutes
Cooking: 18 Minutes
Egg Biryani

Egg Biryani is one of the many Biryani dishes, traditional in northern India. Though the roots of Biryani dishes date back to 16th century Persi

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Gammon with Cumberland Sauce

This delicious recipe for Gammon with Cumberland Sauce will have your taste buds working overtime. Perfect for entertaining or as a family meal

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 2 Hours
Ghee Rice

Ghee Rice is one of the famous Malabar dishes often made in Indian homes specially for the kids - & they love it. Flavoured rice is always a favourite

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani is one of the most popular dishes in India. Chefs who can cook a good Kachi Biryani are considered to be very accomplished

Preparation: 20 Minutes
Cooking: 40 Minutes
Idli with Coconut Chutney

Idli with Coconut Chutney is a rice cake (with an accompanying coconut chutney dip) of south Indian origin and very popular throughout India.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 25 Minutes
Japanese Sushi Rice

Here is a nice simple recipe for making sushi rice. Japanese rice is short grain and becomes slightly sticky when it is cooked.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 15 Minutes
Jeera Pulao (Cumin Rice)

Unlike most Indian recipes, Jeera Pulao (Cumin Rice) has few ingredients and is also quick to make. This dish scores high on the 'fragrance' scale!

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Kedgeree

The best of British meets Indian spice - Kedgeree is the celebrated combination of fish, rice and egg that actually works for me at any time of day!

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes
Khichadi

Khichadi in Hindi (the Indian national language) literally translates as "a mixture of everything". There are different versions right across India.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes
Lamb Biryani

Lamb Biryani has many variants in India. Most of them are rich in flavours since the meat (particularly when using mutton) takes a long time to cook.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Lemon Rice

Lemon Rice is a typical south Indian dish with lots of nuts and colour - one you can easily put together in a hurry, or even make using leftover rice.

Preparation: 40 Minutes
Cooking: 15 Minutes
Maki Sushi

Maki Sushi is a generic term used to describe any type of rolled sushi. These consist of a layer of sushi rice filled with a variety of ingredients.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: NIL
Nigiri-zushi

Nigiri-zushi consists of a small portion of Sushi Rice that is shaped in the hands. A thin piece of fish like tuna or shrimp is draped over the top.

Preparation: 20 Minutes
Cooking: NIL
One Pot Risotto

One Pot Risotto is a simple store cupboard risotto that cooks in the oven while you get on with something else. The result is still wonderfully creamy

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 35 Minutes
Paella

Paella is the celebrated Spanish dish that actually varies in Spain, region to region. For that reason, the ingredients can be changed to suit.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 1 Hour
Peas Pulao

Peas Pulao is a rice based dish that is rather similar to a Biryani. The difference between the two is that Biryani has more spices than Peas Pulao.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Pilaf

The English term Pilaf> is borrowed directly from Turkish, which in turn comes from Classical Persian, Urdu and Hindi. And it still tastes good!!

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes
Pongal

Makara Sankranthi (Pongal) is the harvest festival celebrated right across India, though it is more popular in the rice producing states of the south.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Prawn Sushi

Not all sushi recipes use raw seafood, and this recipe for Prawn Sushi uses cooked prawns (or large shrimp)

Preparation: 20 Minutes
Cooking: 3 Minutes
Rice Kheer

Rice Kheer (Rice custard) is a sweet desert made out of rice and condensed milk. This is an excellent desert after a heavy lunch.

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 25 Minutes
Rice Pudding with Clotted Cream

In many countries, Rice Pudding is a timeless classic of home cooking that appeals to children and adults alike. Here, we make it even better!

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 2 Hours
Rice Soup with Chicken and Ginger

Rice Soup with Chicken and Ginger is perfect for a light lunch or as a starter for a meal with friends. It's a simple, straightforward recipe.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 50 Minutes
Risotto of Smoked Haddock and Mushrooms

An easy, recipe with lots of taste. This luxurious smoked haddock risotto makes a quick and nutritious midweek meal.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes
Sashimi (Raw Seafood)

Sashimi is often the first course in a formal Japanese meal, but it can also be the main course, presented with rice and miso soup in separate bowls.

Preparation: 20 Minutes
Cooking: NIL
Simple Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry is generally much lighter tasting than beef curry. You will discover your own preference regarding the taste, so this recipe is for you.

Preparation: 15 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Spicy Beef Curry with Rice

Curry is one of those dishes that can be made in larger quantities, since it freezes well and can quickly be reheated in a pan or microwave.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Steamed Rice

Rice is becoming a very important purchase in many homes since it is increasingly being used in place of potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Preparation: 5 Minutes
Cooking: 15 Minutes
Stuffed Peppers

Serve colourful, flavour-packed stuffed peppers for a light Mediterranean-style supper. Bring the taste of Italy into your dining room.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Tomato Rice

Of South Indian origin, tangy Tomato Rice makes a great one-dish meal, particularly when served with poppadums. It is a simple to prepare too.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 30 Minutes
Whole Stuffed Cabbage

A true delight. Stuffed cabbage may just be the ultimate comfort food. A slowly cooked, savoury cold weather dish to warm the heart.

Preparation: 30 Minutes
Cooking: 1 Hour
Wild Mushroom Risotto

Wild Mushroom Risotto is soooooo good, you just keep making it and making it. A tasty, succulent risotto that will make you keep going back for more.

Preparation: 10 Minutes
Cooking: 20 Minutes

As a quick guide, the following eight pastas are the ones most commonly used...

Farfalle: Plain, butterfly or shell-shaped egg pasta.

Fusilli: Spiral shaped short sticks of pasta that look like little barley sugar candies. Often available in different flavours (tomato etc.)

Macaroni: Short, thin, hollow pasta sticks with a slightly sweet taste.

Ravioli: Small 'parcels' of pasta with a saucy meat inside.

Spaghetti: Long, thin hollow sticks of pasta about one foot (30cm) long. When putting them in a pan of boiling water, it is necessary to hold them by one end and allow the other end to soften in the water a little before they can be wound into the pan.

Tagliatelli: Narrow, flat strips of egg pasta often sold flavoured with various herbs or garlic. When bought as dried Tagliatelli in packets, they are usually wound into little nests, but these shapes disappear during cooking.

Tortellini: Small 'parcels' of pasta similar to Ravioli but often containing cheese sauces rather than meat.

Vermicelli: Tiny, thin, short sticks of egg pasta that makes a superb quick soup (see Chicken Vermicelli Soup)

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PASTA, NOODLES, COUSCOUS & RICE