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Home > Meal Type > Sides > No Cream Italian Herb Pasta

No Cream Italian Herb Pasta

Updated: Jul 8th 2019 β€’ Published: Dec 6th 2017 β€’ 28 Comments

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close up on the pasta strands with the light herb sauce on them

Rich flavour packed pasta, glistening with a light sauce, perfect for serving with grilled meats, roasts and anything breaded and fried.

This No Cream Italian Herb Pasta is the perfect last minute side dish. And it comes together in just 10 minutes!!!

White plate on a rustic white hessian tablecloth, piled high with Italian Herb pasta, with a serving fork on the side.

Have you ever been so focused on the meat element of your dinner that you forget about a side dish?

You plan for seared steak with red wine butter, get the steak out of the freezer in the morning and make the butter. Then at 6pm you think ‘Eeek, what shall I serve with it’. Does that sound familiar?

Or you have guests coming over for a weeknight meal, you plan something delicious but simple like Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken, Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Grapes, Roasted Mushrooms with Garlic Butter (recipe coming soon) or Lemon Honey Glazed Salmon. But have no idea what to serve as a side, something simple, that doesn’t take much prep!

Step in my No Cream Italian Herb Pasta.

It is jam packed with flavour, super easy to make…we are talking 10 minutes here people!!…and goes with pretty much anything.

Table View. White table with a white hessian cloth. White serving plate piled with no cream italian herb pasta, garnished with parsley.

The sauce is simple and is combined in the time it takes the pasta to cook. Then with a little Italian Nonna magic you have a light silky sauce and a flavour packed side dish. And no cream!!!

I admit, I will happily eat this for lunch on it’s own. Or when Stew is working away I will make a massive bowl, take it to bed and munch my way through it with a chick-flix and a large glass of wine. (Or a big bowl of risotto…because my Stew is anti risotto (crazy man!!))

But as a side it is perfect. Enough flavour for you to enjoy a mouthful or three without the meat, but balanced enough to take the flavours of a main course.

Overhead View. Showing a close up of the italian herb pasta, garnished with parsley.

The sauce is a simple mixture of olive oil, stock cube and mixed Italian herbs. Then with some of the pasta cooking water you have a simple sauce which clings to the pasta.

Never ever drain your pasta without taking out a jugful of the pasta cooking water. It is the liquid gold that can turn your pasta from okay to restaurant quality fabulousness.

Trust me, I was taught by an Italian! He was insistent, and it was a trick he had learnt from his Nonna. And we know that Nonna’s are never to be questions! Not unless you want a swift clip behind the ears πŸ˜‰

Enjoy x

For another great pasta side dish try this Easy Creamy Herb Pasta.

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Rich flavour packed pasta, glistening with a thin sauce, perfect for serving with grilled meats, roasts and anything breaded and fried. This No Cream Italian Herb Pasta is the perfect last minute side dish. And it comes together in just 10 minutes!!! Recipe by Sprinkles and Sprouts | Delicious Food for Easy Entertaining
Print Recipe
4.7 from 20 votes

No Cream Italian Herb Pasta – last minute side

Rich flavour packed pasta, glistening with a thin sauce, perfect for serving with grilled meats, roasts and anything breaded and fried. This No Cream Italian Herb Pasta is the perfect last minute side dish. And it comes together in just 10 minutes!!!
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Side
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 421kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
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Ingredients

US Customary – Grams
  • 12 oz long pasta
  • salt
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp dried italian herbs
  • 2 vegetable stock cubes

Instructions

  • Bring a large pan of water to the boil.
  • Salt the water generously and then add the pasta.
  • Stir well and set your timer for 2 minute less than the packet suggests.
  • Whilst the pasta is cooking add the olive oil and Italian herbs to a small pan and place over a low heat.
  • Once the oil is shimmering, turn off the heat and crumble in the vegetable stock cubes.
  • Stir well and leave whilst the pasta finishes cooking.
  • Use a big measuring cup or jug to remove 2 cups of the pasta cooking water then drain the pasta.
  • Put the pasta back into the pan it was cooked in.
  • Tip the olive oil mixture over the pasta.
  • Use 1 cup of pasta water to rinse the pan out the olive oil pan and add this to the pasta.
  • Place over a medium heat and stir gently.
  • Add a further 1/4-1/2 cup of the cooking water as needed.
  • Once the pasta has a thin coating and all the water has been absorbed, check the seasoning and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g
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Filed Under: All Recipes, Pasta Recipes, Sides

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wendy Boey says

    Sep 7th 2019 at 5:42 pm

    5 stars
    This pasta is yummilicious! I made it for lunch and paired it with blanched leafy greens and Chinese shrimp dumplings. I used chicken stock cubes to replace vegetable stock cubes as that were what I had. It was a great lunch! Definitely going to make it again and again. Thanks for the recipe, Claire! Btw, Claire, do you think granules can be used instead of vegetable stock cubes?

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Sep 8th 2019 at 11:43 am

      Oh Wendy, thank you so much for coming back to comment, I am so happy that you enjoyed the pasta.

      You can definitely do this with granules instead. I often use my veggie/chicken stock granules. The brands I use 1 tsp is the same as a cube in the veggie and 2 tsp for the chicken. The brands do vary in strength and saltiness so you might need a bit of trial and error to get the quantities right.
      Cx
      (p.s Love Chinese shrimp dumpling πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€ )

      Reply
  2. Jessica says

    Mar 9th 2019 at 6:24 am

    5 stars
    I sent this to my husband yesterday after saying I was craving tilapia for dinner. Was looking for a good side of pasta that would compliment the fish (not make it seem like we were having pasta with a side of fish!) and this was SO perfect.

    He said the recipe was super easy and after it was done none of us could stop eating it (10 year old daughter included).

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Mar 9th 2019 at 8:40 am

      Oh thank you so much for coming back to comment Jessica.
      It is one of my favorite last minute side dishes.
      So happy you and your family enjoyed it!
      Cx

      Reply
  3. Alan says

    Nov 13th 2018 at 10:31 am

    5 stars
    It’s really looks delicious. Honestly, I love pasta very much.Thanks for sharing such a great recipe as well as it’s Nutrition Facts.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Nov 18th 2018 at 6:39 am

      You are welcome Alan, I am such a pasta fan πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€

      Reply
  4. Alexon says

    Jul 17th 2018 at 7:56 pm

    4 stars
    I love to eat pasta. This pasta recipe seems great

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Jul 19th 2018 at 4:29 am

      Thank you. It is such a quick and simple side dish πŸ˜€

      Reply
  5. Samuel S says

    Jun 27th 2018 at 6:22 pm

    5 stars
    Pasta with no cream its a dream come true. Thanks for the recipe I will ask my wife to definitely try it.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Jun 28th 2018 at 8:52 pm

      Thank you Samuel, I hope you and your wife enjoy it πŸ˜€

      Reply
  6. Susanne says

    Mar 15th 2018 at 2:45 am

    5 stars
    What a great dish! Perfect for a side or even a meatless dinner! I love all the flavors you’ve layered into this recipe!!

    Susanne

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Mar 17th 2018 at 8:52 am

      Thank you Susanne, I love how easy it is whilst still tasting great!

      Reply
  7. michele says

    Mar 15th 2018 at 1:37 am

    5 stars
    I happened on this when trying to find something to make with our grilled chicken last night! Im so glad I made a double batch so Id have lunch too…. it was so easy, I had everything to make it and it saved the dilemma of what to make as a side dish! Looking forward to lunch as I type this… it was so yummy!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Mar 15th 2018 at 1:28 pm

      Oh I am so happy you enjoyed it Michele πŸ˜€
      It is such a great last minute side dish isn’t it!

      Reply
  8. Patty K-P says

    Mar 14th 2018 at 11:25 pm

    5 stars
    I LOVE that there’s no cream added to this pasta dish. I can see myself eating a large bowl of this on the couch πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Mar 17th 2018 at 8:55 am

      It is definitely a bowl on the sofa type of dish πŸ˜€

      Reply
  9. Karly says

    Dec 28th 2017 at 6:58 am

    So easy and quick too!! Pinning!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Jan 9th 2018 at 11:00 am

      Simple sides are my favourite kind πŸ˜€
      Thank you for the pin!

      Reply
  10. Hasnain says

    Dec 24th 2017 at 6:22 pm

    5 stars
    oh yum, it looks healthy and delicious…. I love the herbs :O

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Jan 9th 2018 at 11:00 am

      Not having cream in it, means you can really enjoy this pasta quilt free. (Not that I ever have food guilt!;-) )

      Reply
  11. Isadora Guidoni says

    Dec 20th 2017 at 3:10 am

    5 stars
    This pasta recipe seems great! I’ve been looking for something different to try, thanks for this!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Jan 9th 2018 at 11:11 am

      Thank you Isadora, it is such a simple side but it works so well with so many mains πŸ˜€

      Reply
  12. Donna says

    Dec 16th 2017 at 4:01 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, Claire
    This pasta looks really very good and its simple. I don’t like olive oil personally. Is there any alternative to olive oil? BTW thanks for your great recipe.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Dec 17th 2017 at 5:11 pm

      Hi Donna,
      You could use a mixture of a neutral oil and melted butter.
      I have tried it with all butter and somehow the sauce isn’t as light and silky.
      But a mixture of oil and butter will fix that.

      Hope that helps.

      Reply
      • Donna says

        Dec 18th 2017 at 11:11 am

        5 stars
        Thanks, Claire, for your quick response. I’m going to try it soon πŸ™‚

        Reply
  13. Aria says

    Dec 13th 2017 at 3:57 pm

    4 stars
    It’s so tasty; I really enjoyed it , thanks for sharing such an easy and wonderful pasta recipe.

    Reply
  14. krishi says

    Dec 6th 2017 at 3:41 pm

    5 stars
    I love pasta so much. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Dec 12th 2017 at 8:20 am

      You are welcome Krishi, pasta is a staple main/side in our house πŸ˜€

      Reply

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Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

I believe cooking for those you love should be stress free and simple.

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