4 Easy Ways to Spice Up the Pasta in Your Pantry

Bored by the all that pasta in your pantry? Top chefs share simple tips for spicing up spaghetti.

Lemon

Mix lemon juice with grated Parmesan, olive oil, black pepper, and parsley, advises Steve Samson of downtown’s Rossoblu* and Superfine Pizza*. “The acid from the lemon breaks down the cheese proteins, creating a really cool texture.”

Rosemary

Make a paste of chopped anchovies, minced rosemary, garlic, and a neutral oil
and toss with pasta. “It has an amazing flavor,” says Michael Teich of West
Hollywood’s the Nice Guy*, Petite Taqueria*, and Delilah*.

Canned fish

Quickly sauté chopped canned sardines or anchovies with garlic and chili flakes, then add some canned tomatoes for a simple sauce, recommends Chris Flint, executive chef at Maude* in Beverly Hills

Peanut butter

Herve Guillard at the Institute of Culinary Education, suggests simmering a can of coconut milk and half cup of peanut butter with some soy or fish sauce, ground cardamom, and whatever veggies you have handy. It’s “a pantry take on Thai peanut curry.”

*Restaurant is currently offering takeout and/or delivery

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