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!!!
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.
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.
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 😉
Enjoy x
For another great pasta side dish try this Easy Creamy Herb Pasta.
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Recipe
No Cream Italian Herb Pasta - last minute side
Ingredients
- 12 oz long pasta
- salt
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon 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 ¼-1/2 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.
Wendy Boey says
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?
Claire McEwen says
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 😀 😀 )
Jessica says
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).
Claire McEwen says
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
Alan says
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.
Claire McEwen says
You are welcome Alan, I am such a pasta fan 😀 😀
Alexon says
I love to eat pasta. This pasta recipe seems great
Claire McEwen says
Thank you. It is such a quick and simple side dish 😀
Samuel S says
Pasta with no cream its a dream come true. Thanks for the recipe I will ask my wife to definitely try it.
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Samuel, I hope you and your wife enjoy it 😀
Susanne says
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
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Susanne, I love how easy it is whilst still tasting great!
michele says
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!
Claire McEwen says
Oh I am so happy you enjoyed it Michele 😀
It is such a great last minute side dish isn't it!
Patty K-P says
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 🙂
Claire McEwen says
It is definitely a bowl on the sofa type of dish 😀
Karly says
So easy and quick too!! Pinning!
Claire McEwen says
Simple sides are my favourite kind 😀
Thank you for the pin!
Hasnain says
oh yum, it looks healthy and delicious.... I love the herbs :O
Claire McEwen says
Not having cream in it, means you can really enjoy this pasta quilt free. (Not that I ever have food guilt!;-) )
Isadora Guidoni says
This pasta recipe seems great! I've been looking for something different to try, thanks for this!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Isadora, it is such a simple side but it works so well with so many mains 😀
Donna says
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.
Claire McEwen says
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.
Donna says
Thanks, Claire, for your quick response. I'm going to try it soon 🙂
Aria says
It’s so tasty; I really enjoyed it , thanks for sharing such an easy and wonderful pasta recipe.
krishi says
I love pasta so much. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe.
Claire McEwen says
You are welcome Krishi, pasta is a staple main/side in our house 😀