Lidia's Kitchen Season 3 Episode 11 Pasta

In season 3 episode 11 of Lidia's Kitchen, viewers are taken on a journey into the world of pasta. Italian-American celebrity chef and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich shares her tips and tricks for creating perfect pasta dishes, from choosing the right pasta shape to pairing with a delicious sauce.

The episode begins with Lidia giving a brief history of pasta and its significance in Italian cuisine. She explains that pasta has been a staple food in Italy for centuries and is now enjoyed all over the world.

Lidia then shows viewers how to make one of her favorite pasta dishes: spaghetti with arugula pesto and cherry tomatoes. She starts by cooking the spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water until it is al dente. While the pasta cooks, Lidia makes the arugula pesto by blending arugula, pine nuts, garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, olive oil, and salt in a food processor.

Once the pasta is cooked, Lidia combines it with the arugula pesto and cherry tomatoes, tossing everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. She serves the dish with a sprinkling of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

Next, Lidia demonstrates how to make cacio e pepe, a classic Roman pasta dish that translates to "cheese and pepper." She starts by toasting whole black peppercorns in a pan until they are fragrant and then crushing them with a mortar and pestle. She adds the crushed pepper to a pan with melted butter and starchy pasta cooking water.

Lidia then adds the cooked spaghetti to the pan, along with Pecorino Romano cheese, stirring everything together until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. She serves the cacio e pepe with a sprinkling of freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese.

Finally, Lidia shares her recipe for pasta with tuna, olives, and capers. She starts by cooking the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it is al dente. While the pasta cooks, Lidia sautés chopped onion in a pan until it is translucent and adds a can of tuna, drained and flaked, along with chopped olives, capers, and a splash of white wine.

Once the pasta is cooked, Lidia adds it to the pan with the tuna mixture, tossing everything together until the pasta is coated with the sauce. She serves the dish with a sprinkling of chopped parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.

Throughout the episode, Lidia emphasizes the importance of using high-quality ingredients when cooking pasta. She also provides tips for storing and reheating leftover pasta, including how to prevent it from becoming mushy.

Overall, season 3 episode 11 of Lidia's Kitchen is a must-watch for anyone who loves pasta or wants to learn more about Italian cuisine. Lidia's passion for cooking and her wealth of knowledge make for an engaging and informative episode that is sure to inspire viewers to try their hand at making their own delicious pasta dishes.