Stanley Tucci's Pasta Recipe Is Italian Food Done Right (3 Ingredients, 10 Minutes) Italian Recipes High Protein Recipes Pasta Dinner Vegetarian Budget Recipes Low Sugar Recipes Side Dishes

I love this pasta recipe from Stanley Tucci. His Italian roots shine through with this simple dish that will have your whole family asking for more. I made this three-ingredient pasta recipe for some friends this week and I was rewarded with a 9-year-old telling me it was the best pasta ever!

This easy Italian recipe is ready in less than 15 minutes and is a perfect complement to the sausage tortellini soup that I served with it. To make this creamy, cheesy pasta you will need salted butter, short dry pasta and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. That's it! That is all it takes to make a simplistic Italian dinner.

Stanley Tucci makes this high-protein pasta with stelline. Stelline, or "little stars," are tiny star-shaped pasta with holes in the center. You can find it in a specialty Italian cooking store. The finer you grate the Parmesan, the easier it is to melt it into the pasta.

Serve Stanley Tucci's pasta in a pasta bowl for lunch or dinner with your favorite side dishes. We like to add a salad and hot-out-of-the-oven bread. 

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into chunks
• 1 pound short dry pasta (stelline, shells, etc.)
• 1 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping

Here's how to make it: 

1. Place a large pot of water with a pinch of salt on the stove on high. When water reaches a boil, add the pasta and cook to al dente according to the package directions.
2. When the pasta is done, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and then drain the rest.
3. Return the pasta back to the pot with the butter. Mix thoroughly.
4. Add the cheese and the pasta water. Stir well to create a creamy sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. (For some spice, add some crushed red pepper flakes.)
5. Place warm pasta in bowls and top with remaining Parmesan and enjoy!

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