Guides / Dishes & Drinks

15 of Our Favourite Pasta Recipes

TasteToronto

over 2 years ago

Freshly made pasta, coated in a rich and creamy sauce, tossed with crispy lardons of guanciale and finished with a generous sprinkling of Parmigiano. Nothing compares to a piping hot bowl of pasta when it comes to comfort.

We have rounded up a list of our 15 most popular pasta recipes, including a few recipes from some of Toronto's best chefs and restaurants. From brightly hued purple gnocchi, beyond simple cacio e pepe and slowly cooked bolognese, we've got all your favourites covered.

15

Cavatelli Bolognese

Moderate

Nothing beats homemade pasta and a hearty bolognese sauce when it comes to comfort. Feel free to use your favourite store-bought pasta if you'd instead opt-out of making homemade dough. This cavatelli dough is made from semolina and 00 flour; no eggs are called for, making the...

14

Bucatini all' Amatriciana

Easy

Originating from the central Italian town of Amatrice and certainly one of the most well-known pasta dishes internationally, you’d be hard-pressed to find any self-proclaimed pasta connoisseurs that are not familiar with it. The ingredients in this recipe are few and simple, t...

13

Purple Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Easy

Making purple sweet potato (also called purple yam or ube) gnocchi is quite simple and follows the exact same steps and techniques as making regular potato gnocchi. The end result of course is extremely eye catching to say the least. The final product is a bright purple dough ...

12

Basil and Pea Summer Lasagna

Moderate

It is hard to find an excuse to eat piping hot lasagna in the summer. As one of the heavier Italian dishes, lasagna is typically loaded with beef, ricotta cheese and layers upon layers of thick noodles, making it an ideal meal for a February night. Lasagna is one of my favouri...

11

Eataly's Agnolotti del Plin

Moderate

A dish native to the Piemonte region of Italy, Agnolotti del Plin gets it name from the regional dialect for "pinch", which is how the pasta is made. Filled with a hearty veal and pork filling and tossed in a rich brown butter sage sauce, this pasta dish is decadent -- even mo...

10

Lemon Garlic Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Thyme

Easy

This pasta recipe is extremely easy to make and great for when you're short on time or want to enjoy a delicious bowl of buttery pasta. Tomatoes, herbs and butter pair so perfectly together and that, in combination with the toasted breadcrumbs, makes this one of my favourite m...

9

Pasta e Fasò

Easy

There is perhaps no more winter-friendly dish than a proper minestra di pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans). Whether you’re at the toe of Italy’s boot or hanging out at the upper thigh, you will undoubtedly find a variation of this dish. Perhaps it is because the ingredients are...

8

Ricotta Gnocchi With Mushrooms and Spinach

Easy

Gnocchi is much simpler to make than people realize and this recipe by Gimme Some Oven is incredibly delicious! This recipe is for ricotta gnocchi that is ready in 20 minutes! The gnocchi can be served with red sauce, cream sauce or just butter. I have sautéed it with spinach ...

7

Sweet Potato Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage

Easy

Nothing quite compares to freshly made ravioli coated in a brown butter and sage sauce (especially when said ravioli is fresh from Famiglia Baldassarre!). With the addition of sweetness from the honey and nuttiness from the toasted walnuts, this dish is simple yet extremely we...

6

Chef David Marcelli's Lasagna

Moderate

Chef David Marcelli -- pasta chef at Buca -- shows us how to make his insanely comforting "quarantine lasagna" as he dubs it. Comprised of a slow-cooked meaty bolognese, a creamy béchamel sauce, a generous amount of cheese and freshly made pasta sheets; there is nothing better...

5

Chef Justin Friedlich's Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce

Moderate

Chef Justin Friedlich -- sous chef at Buca Osteria -- loves to whip up homemade gnocchi for his family and friends. His gnocchi recipe calls for fresh ricotta instead of potato, which results in an extremely fluffy and creamy texture. Friedlich says opting for light ricotta ov...

4

Chef Rob Gentile's Cavatelli Carbonara

Moderate

Freshly made cavatelli, tossed in a silky smooth sauce comprised of rich egg yolks, savoury guanciale, salty Pecorino and several cranks of freshly cracked black pepper -- that is a dish worth making. Confined to our homes, comfort food is king and what is possibly more satisf...

3

Buca's Cacio e Pepe

Easy

Cacio e pepe is a popular, quick, and tasty Italian dish, originating from Rome. The literal translation is "Cheese and Pepper", since the dish is derived from combining high quality Pecorino Romano and black pepper. When you taste the creaminess to the sauce, you will not bel...

2

Buono's Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Easy

Who can resist an authentic carbonara? Made with salty Pecorino, smoky guanciale and a velvety coating of rich egg yolks -- this Roman dish is simple to make, yet extremely flavourful. Buono, an Italian pasta bar on Queen West, knows how to make the carbonara of our dreams, an...

1

Piano Piano's Carbonara

Easy

Beloved Italian joint Piano Piano is a Harbord Village staple for rich pastas and wood-fire pizzas. Make this classic Piano Piano recipe at home -- a tried and true classic, carbonara. With smoky pancetta or guanciale, a rich egg-based sauce and a generous sprinkling of parmes...

Guides / Dishes & Drinks

over 2 years ago

15 of Our Favourite Pasta Recipes

TasteToronto

15

Cavatelli Bolognese

Moderate

              Nothing beats homemade pasta and a hearty bolognese sauce when it comes to comfort. Feel free to use your favourite store-bought pasta if you'd instead opt-out of making homemade dough. This cavatelli dough is made from semolina and 00 flour; no eggs are called for, making the...

14

Bucatini all' Amatriciana

Easy

              Originating from the central Italian town of Amatrice and certainly one of the most well-known pasta dishes internationally, you’d be hard-pressed to find any self-proclaimed pasta connoisseurs that are not familiar with it. The ingredients in this recipe are few and simple, t...

13

Purple Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Easy

              Making purple sweet potato (also called purple yam or ube) gnocchi is quite simple and follows the exact same steps and techniques as making regular potato gnocchi. The end result of course is extremely eye catching to say the least. The final product is a bright purple dough ...

12

Basil and Pea Summer Lasagna

Moderate

              It is hard to find an excuse to eat piping hot lasagna in the summer. As one of the heavier Italian dishes, lasagna is typically loaded with beef, ricotta cheese and layers upon layers of thick noodles, making it an ideal meal for a February night. Lasagna is one of my favouri...

11

Eataly's Agnolotti del Plin

Moderate

              A dish native to the Piemonte region of Italy, Agnolotti del Plin gets it name from the regional dialect for "pinch", which is how the pasta is made. Filled with a hearty veal and pork filling and tossed in a rich brown butter sage sauce, this pasta dish is decadent -- even mo...

10

Lemon Garlic Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Thyme

Easy

              This pasta recipe is extremely easy to make and great for when you're short on time or want to enjoy a delicious bowl of buttery pasta. Tomatoes, herbs and butter pair so perfectly together and that, in combination with the toasted breadcrumbs, makes this one of my favourite m...

9

Pasta e Fasò

Easy

              There is perhaps no more winter-friendly dish than a proper minestra di pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans). Whether you’re at the toe of Italy’s boot or hanging out at the upper thigh, you will undoubtedly find a variation of this dish. Perhaps it is because the ingredients are...

8

Ricotta Gnocchi With Mushrooms and Spinach

Easy

              Gnocchi is much simpler to make than people realize and this recipe by Gimme Some Oven is incredibly delicious! This recipe is for ricotta gnocchi that is ready in 20 minutes! The gnocchi can be served with red sauce, cream sauce or just butter. I have sautéed it with spinach ...

7

Sweet Potato Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage

Easy

              Nothing quite compares to freshly made ravioli coated in a brown butter and sage sauce (especially when said ravioli is fresh from Famiglia Baldassarre!). With the addition of sweetness from the honey and nuttiness from the toasted walnuts, this dish is simple yet extremely we...

6

Chef David Marcelli's Lasagna

Moderate

              Chef David Marcelli -- pasta chef at Buca -- shows us how to make his insanely comforting "quarantine lasagna" as he dubs it. Comprised of a slow-cooked meaty bolognese, a creamy béchamel sauce, a generous amount of cheese and freshly made pasta sheets; there is nothing better...

5

Chef Justin Friedlich's Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce

Moderate

              Chef Justin Friedlich -- sous chef at Buca Osteria -- loves to whip up homemade gnocchi for his family and friends. His gnocchi recipe calls for fresh ricotta instead of potato, which results in an extremely fluffy and creamy texture. Friedlich says opting for light ricotta ov...

4

Chef Rob Gentile's Cavatelli Carbonara

Moderate

              Freshly made cavatelli, tossed in a silky smooth sauce comprised of rich egg yolks, savoury guanciale, salty Pecorino and several cranks of freshly cracked black pepper -- that is a dish worth making. Confined to our homes, comfort food is king and what is possibly more satisf...

3

Buca's Cacio e Pepe

Easy

              Cacio e pepe is a popular, quick, and tasty Italian dish, originating from Rome. The literal translation is "Cheese and Pepper", since the dish is derived from combining high quality Pecorino Romano and black pepper. When you taste the creaminess to the sauce, you will not bel...

2

Buono's Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Easy

              Who can resist an authentic carbonara? Made with salty Pecorino, smoky guanciale and a velvety coating of rich egg yolks -- this Roman dish is simple to make, yet extremely flavourful. Buono, an Italian pasta bar on Queen West, knows how to make the carbonara of our dreams, an...

1

Piano Piano's Carbonara

Easy

              Beloved Italian joint Piano Piano is a Harbord Village staple for rich pastas and wood-fire pizzas. Make this classic Piano Piano recipe at home -- a tried and true classic, carbonara. With smoky pancetta or guanciale, a rich egg-based sauce and a generous sprinkling of parmes...

We’ll see you in there.

TasteToronto

over 2 years ago

15 Cavatelli Bolognese

14 Bucatini all' Amatriciana

13 Purple Sweet Potato Gnocchi

12 Basil and Pea Summer Lasagna

11 Eataly's Agnolotti del Plin

10 Lemon Garlic Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Thyme

9 Pasta e Fasò

8 Ricotta Gnocchi With Mushrooms and Spinach

7 Sweet Potato Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage

6 Chef David Marcelli's Lasagna

5 Chef Justin Friedlich's Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce

4 Chef Rob Gentile's Cavatelli Carbonara

3 Buca's Cacio e Pepe

2 Buono's Spaghetti alla Carbonara

1 Piano Piano's Carbonara

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15

Cavatelli Bolognese

14

Bucatini all' Amatriciana

13

Purple Sweet Potato Gnocchi

12

Basil and Pea Summer Lasagna

11

Eataly's Agnolotti del Plin

10

Lemon Garlic Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Thyme

9

Pasta e Fasò

8

Ricotta Gnocchi With Mushrooms and Spinach

7

Sweet Potato Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage

6

Chef David Marcelli's Lasagna

5

Chef Justin Friedlich's Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce

4

Chef Rob Gentile's Cavatelli Carbonara

3

Buca's Cacio e Pepe

2

Buono's Spaghetti alla Carbonara

1

Piano Piano's Carbonara