Stop Ordering These 10 Pasta Dishes You Can Just Make At Home, Order These 10 Instead
Stop Ordering These 10 Pasta Dishes You Can Just Make At Home, Order These 10 Instead
Try Something Different
No one will ever say no to a freshly-made bowl of pasta, but when you're out at a fancy Italian restaurant, you might want to think about your choices. Because while some pasta dishes are easy enough for you to make at home, many are quite complicated and need an experienced hand. So the next time you're going out to eat this amazing cuisine, here are 10 pasta dishes to skip because you can make them yourself, and 10 underrated picks that are worth trying.
1. Spaghetti Carbonara
A popular favorite among most pasta lovers, carbonara is an exceptionally rich and creamy dish made from eggs, cheese, pancetta (or bacon), and loads of pepper. It's very satisfying to enjoy, but there are so few ingredients involved you could easily make it at home! You might want to save your restaurant order for something that's much more difficult to make.
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2. Aglio e Olio
Bringing you the best of simple meets classic, aglio e olio is a pretty inexpensive pasta dish if you think about the ingredients involved. It's as traditional as it gets and really relies on the lovely flavors of the garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes to meld together to make it come alive. We're pretty sure you likely have all those ingredients at home already though, right?
3. Cacio e Pepe
Literally translating to "cheese and pepper," cacio e pepe is certainly an apt name. For those who appreciate simpler tastes, you'll definitely love these combination of easy flavors. But when you only really need three ingredients to whip up this dish, you might want to order something that's not so easy to find.
4. Pasta Primavera
Though you see pasta primavera often on menus in many Italian restaurants, did you know this is actually an American invention? Originating right here in the United States, it dates back as far as the 1970s. It's a hearty and flavorful pasta dish that celebrates the beauty of spring vegetables in a creamy sauce, making it a great dinner to whip up if you have a lot of leftover veggies in your fridge. Might want to save this for a lazy Tuesday night instead of ordering it at a nice restaurant!
Stacy Spensley from San Diego on Wikimedia
5. Tomato Basil Pasta
Can it get any more simple than spaghetti in a tomato basil sauce? While this basic form of pasta is still delicious and refreshing to enjoy, it might be more worth it to try dishes more complicated and unique while dining out. Not to mention, it's cheap and easy to make yourself too!
Georges Seguin (Okki) on Wikimedia
6. Fettuccine Alfredo
Another popular favorite, fettuccine alfredo is creamy, rich, and so decadent. It's a classic Italian dish that feels like the epitome of comfort food, with it always giving off a homecooked vibe. And to make things even better for you, it's surprisingly simple enough to whip up yourself! Once you master the texture and consistency of the sauce, you won't ever have to order it at a restaurant again.
7. Gnocchi
Gnocchi tends to seem like a fancy, expensive dish to order at restaurants, but the reality is, it's a lot easier to make than you think - and a lot cheaper too! These soft and pillowy dumplings are made from a simple mixture of potatoes, flour, and egg, and can be served with a variety of sauces. You can easily find it served at most restaurants, which means it's time to give something else a try - save this for home!
8. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs is a beloved Italian-American dish that reminds you of childhood dinners and your mom's cooking. It's simple yet so satisfying every time, which is why many Americans consider it a favorite. But there's something about this pasta dish that tastes better homemade, meaning it's better saved as a kitchen staple than a go-to order at a restaurant.
9. Pesto Pasta
For fans of earthy flavors, you can never go wrong with pesto pasta. There's a rich heartiness to this dish that can't be beat! But if you love that vibrant and herby taste, all you need are the ingredients and a blender to make it yourself at home. It's simple, quick, and easy, which might convince you to start ordering something a bit more complex at Italian restaurants.
Victoria Aleksandrova on Unsplash
10. Spaghetti Bolognese
When you think of pasta, we wouldn't be surprised if Bolognese is the first thing that pops into your mind. It's a classic after all! That flavorful meat sauce paired with al dente noodles is a combination to behold. Given its popularity and simplicity, you can find plenty of unique recipes online, each with a different variation that makes it special in its own way. So with so many to try making yourself, there's no need to order it at restaurants!
1. Ravioli
While making fresh pasta at home is already a challenge, imagine having to make it more complicated by stuffing it with filling! Ravioli is a delicious filled pasta that can be served in many different sauces and soups. Only a master can really nail getting the ratio of pasta to stuffing correctly, on top of having to get the dough nice and thin to begin with! Best save this one for the experts; this is a great option to order at restaurants.
2. Spaghetti alla Chitarra
Pasta dishes made with this type of noodle need to be appreciated more! Because on first glance it might seem pretty typical, but spaghetti alla chitarra is made with a special device that makes the noodle-making process unique. The chitarra, a traditional Italian instrument, gives this spaghetti a unique texture that's worth trying if you ever see it on a menu. It has a cool square cross-section that gives it cool visuals too!
3. Tortellini in Brodo
Making fresh tortellini by hand is truly an art form. It requires the dough to be rolled out extremely thin and then filled with a precise mixture of meats and cheeses. In this pasta dish, it's served in a hearty broth that is quite complex. It needs to be rich and clear, which can be difficult to achieve if you're not the strongest cook in the kitchen.
4. Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage
Now that's a pasta dish you've probably never heard of before. Step out of your comfort zone to try something different, like orecchiette. It's commonly made in a broccoli rabe and sausage sauce that has a great balance of flavors, from the spiciness of the sausage to the bitterness of the broccoli rabe. It's definitely a complicated dish to get right, so it's a great option to order at a restaurant.
5. Lasagna Bolognese
A comfort classic, a true lasagna Bolognese is a work of art to be admired. It's just the dish to order after a long day, sure to bring a smile to your face and calm your nerves. To make a truly delicious lasagna, you have to make several components all from scratch: the ragù, béchamel sauce, and pasta sheets. Each layer needs to be perfectly cooked and seasoned for the lasagna to have the right balance of flavors and textures. This is one pasta dish that definitely tastes more delicious when ordered in a restaurant - they have the time to make these where you don't always!
6. Squid Ink Pasta
Though it may look a bit frightening or unappetizing, squid ink pasta is a food experience you don't want to miss out on. It's a complicated process, one that you should probably leave to the professionals. It requires incorporating squid ink into pasta dough, which is very messy and requires precision to achieve the right color and flavor.
7. Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu
The difficulty in a pappardelle pasta dish is all in finding the perfect way to complement the noodle with the sauce. When made fresh, it's absolutely delicious, but has to be rolled out to the perfect thickness so it can cling onto the sauce. It can't be too thin or too thick, which requires an experienced hand. Not to mention, wild boar ragu is a step up from your usual meat sauce, taking a lot of time and patience to allow the flavors to develop fully. You won't be disappointed if you ever get a chance to order this though!
8. Cannelloni
Cannelloni is a step up from your typical pasta dish, making it a difficult one to get right. After all, filling and rolling it up is a challenge in of itself! Not only does it take a delicate hand to carefully roll up the noodle, the filling has to be the right ratio and right balance of flavors; it can't be too wet either or else it makes the pasta super soggy! A lot of care and effort is put into this dish, meaning you can always save yourself the hassle and order it instead.
Francis Bijl from Groningen, Netherlands on Wikimedia
9. Tagliolini with Truffle
Tagliolini is a thin and flat pasta noodle with a great bite to it. It's commonly paired with truffle, elevating this dish to new heights that might be too complex to make at home. As with most truffle dishes, the difficulty lies not just in the handling and shaving of the truffles, but also in balancing the flavors so that it's not too overpowering. The combination of noodle, truffle, and sauce is absolutely delightful, making it worthy of being experienced in a fine Italian restaurant. You won't regret it!
10. Pasta Puttanesca
If you're looking for something with a bold punch of flavor, pasta puttanesca is a surprising pick you won't expect. Loaded with anchovies, capers, olives, and tomatoes, it may seem like a mish mash of flavors, but it works! As expected, getting the balance right is a tricky one though, one that you might want to save for a chef. Besides, it also takes more work gathering these unique ingredients you might not have at home!
