Buttered Pasta

Buttered Pasta Is Easy And Delicios

 

 While red sauce is the most familiar match for Italian pasta, as you move into Northern Italy the tomatoes and olive oil give way to creamy butter as a popular pasta topping. Northern Italy is a major dairy region.

This delicious dish couldn't be simpler to prepare, combining cooked pasta with the rich natural taste of butter. The dish comes together as quickly as you can cook the pasta.

A topping of toasted bread crumbs adds a pleasing crunch. And for a variation, substitute grated Dry Jack for Parmesan. Dry Jack is an aged form of the ever-popular Monterey Jack.

Hearty enough to serve as a main course with a green salad on the side, Buttered Pasta is also a perfect accompaniment to any type of meat or chicken dish. It also goes well with fish because its rich yet subtle flavors do not overwhelm even the most delicate fish.

This recipe works best with slightly wider forms of pasta, such as linguini or fettuccini, which provide a nice balance between the pasta and butter coating. It will also work nicely with a penne or rigatoni style of pasta. But feel free to use your favorite type.

 BUTTERED PASTA

Yield: 3-4 entr�e servings

or 6-8 as a side dish

1 pound (16 ounces) dried or fresh linguini

2 tablespoons salt

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter

1 cup (4 ounces) freshly grated Monterey Jack or Parmesan cheese or both

1/4 cup toasted bread crumbs

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. In a large (6-8 quart) pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add salt and pasta.

2. While pasta is cooking, cut butter into 1-inch pieces and set aside to soften.

3. When pasta is cooked to desired doneness, drain in a colander, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Return drained pasta to the cooking pot and add butter, half the grated cheese and half the bread crumbs. Toss, coating well. Add the reserved pasta water to moisten. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

4. Transfer to a serving bowl or portion into individual pasta bowls and sprinkle remaining cheese and bread crumbs on top. Serve immediately.

For a simple and hearty meal or a delicious side dish, try Buttered Pasta.