Add Pasta to Taste

Pasta is always high on the list of America’s favorite foods. Quick and easy to fix, hard to ruin, it can be made and ready to eat within a half-hour. What could be better for today’s “faster, faster” life?

But the one fault I find with many pastas is that they are often smothered in sauce. Too much sauce destroys the texture and taste. This is also true of most pizzas. I have a solution, and what I think is a very pleasant way of serving pasta so each person can create his or her own dish.

First, cook up a big plate of pasta.

Next, put some chopped garlic, chives, watercress, oregano and ripe tomatoes in separate bowls with a bowl of grated Parmesan and some olive oil in a pitcher on the serving table. Have individual serving dishes and let each person first add what they want from the vegetables, then they can add the hot pasta to the dish. The hot pasta slightly cooks the raw vegetables. Then everyone can sit down to eat and, using a fork, mix their pasta so it comes out just right. Top with olive oil and cheese to taste.

Pasta to Please

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 15 minutes

You can chop the garlic, chives, oregano and tomatoes early the day you plan to serve this; put them in small bowls, shake a little cold water over the chives and oregano, and cover the dishes with plastic wrap before refrigerating.

6 quarts water

2 tablespoons salt

1 pound linguine

6 large cloves garlic, minced

1 bunch chives, minced

1 bunch oregano, minced

4 tomatoes, chopped

Salt, pepper

1 small pitcher of olive oil

1/2 pound Parmesan cheese, for grating

* Bring water to boil in large pot over high heat. Stir in salt to blend with water. Add linguine to water, and, using a fork, stir and separate pasta strands so they don’t stick together. Test pasta after 12 minutes by spearing a strand or two with a fork and running it under cold water and tasting. If still firm, cook another few minutes, testing every couple of minutes until al dente. Drain and place in large serving bowl.

* Set small bowls holding garlic, chives, oregano and tomatoes alongside pasta bowl. Let everyone first add what they want to their serving bowls, then top with hot pasta. Be sure to pass salt and pepper, and finish with olive oil and cheese if desired.

4 servings. Each serving with 2 teaspoons each topping: 756 calories; 1,042 mg sodium; 41 mg cholesterol; 27 grams fat; 91 grams carbohydrates; 68 grams protein; 1.66 grams fiber.