Estelle’s One-Pan Pasta

Ingredients:

• 12 oz dry bucatini or spaghetti (I used spaghetti)
• 12 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 Tbs Calabrian chile paste or crushed red pepper flakes (I used just a pinch of the pepper flakes)
• 3 to 4 sprigs of basil, torn, plus more for serving
• 3 Tbs olive oil
• 4 1/2 cups water (I used Chicken Broth)
• salt and pepper
• 16 pieces 16/20 shrimp, cleaned optional (I used the small frozen shrimp from Wal-Mart)
• juice of 1/2 lemon optional
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a large heavy pan with high sides (such as a saute pan), lay the dry pasta flat. Add the tomatoes, garlic, Calabrian past or red pepper flakes, and torn basil. Drizzle the ingredients with olive oil, then add the water and a generous pinch of salt.
2. Turn the heat on medium-high, and allow water to come to a boil, stirring constantly with tongs, for 10 to 12 minutes. The sauce should begin to thicken as the tomatoes break down, and the pasta should become al dente.
3. Add the shrimp directly into the liquid 3 to 5 minutes before the pasta is done. The shrimp is down when it is pink on both sides, and without any traces of being translucent or gray. Take the pan off the heat, squeeze in the lemon juice, and gently toss to incorporate.
4. Plate your pasta and finish with a generous amount of Parmesan, freshly ground black pepper, and fresh basil.

During the week it gets busy and is sometimes hard to make dinner but Estelle’s One-Pan Pasta is a quick delicious meal that is great for your busy work week. Plus it has the added benefit of being from The Official Friends Cookbook if you’re a massive Friends fan.

The reason I used chicken broth instead of water is that I think it gives the noodles a little more flavor. My boyfriend is lactose intolerant so he ate his pasta without the parmesan. Also since I was in a hurry when making I didn’t notice the potion that said halve the tomatoes so yours will probably look different than mine.

A salad and some garlic bread work great as side dishes for this pasta dish. The leftover also makes a really good lunch the next day. The book did not provide any nutrition information. It does say that this should make 2 to 4 servings and is inspired by season 1, episode 1 “The One With the Butt”.