Oliver's Twist Season 2 Episode 6 Pasta & the Masta

Oliver's Twist is a cooking show that emphasizes the creation of delicious food that is both simple to make and full of flavor. In season 2 episode 6, titled 'Pasta & the Masta,' Oliver focuses on pasta dishes that are easy to make and offer an explosion of flavor in every bite.

The episode begins with Oliver welcoming viewers to his kitchen and introducing the main ingredient for the day - pasta. He explains that pasta is a versatile ingredient that can be paired with a variety of sauces and ingredients to create a satisfying meal. Oliver also stresses the importance of using high-quality pasta and a large pot of salted water to cook it in to ensure that it cooks evenly and doesn't stick together.

The first dish Oliver makes is a classic tomato-based pasta sauce with fresh basil and garlic. He starts by heating olive oil in a large skillet and adding finely chopped garlic to infuse the oil with a fragrant flavor. He then adds canned tomatoes to the skillet and allows the sauce to simmer to develop a deeper flavor. Oliver adds a pinch of sugar to the sauce to counteract the acidity of the tomatoes, followed by salt and pepper to taste. He then adds freshly chopped basil to the sauce and stirs to combine.

While the sauce simmers, Oliver cooks the pasta according to the package instructions. Once the pasta is al dente, he drains it and adds it to the skillet with the sauce. Oliver stirs the pasta and sauce together, allowing the pasta to soak up the flavors of the sauce.

For the second dish, Oliver makes a creamy carbonara sauce with bacon, egg yolks, and parmesan cheese. He starts by cooking bacon in a large skillet until it's crispy and golden brown. He sets the cooked bacon aside and combines egg yolks with grated parmesan cheese in a mixing bowl.

Oliver then cooks the pasta and reserves a cup of the pasta cooking water. He adds the reserved pasta water to the skillet with the bacon and brings it to a simmer. He then adds the cooked pasta to the skillet and tosses it with the bacon and reserved pasta water.

Once the pasta is evenly coated, Oliver removes the skillet from heat and adds the egg yolk and parmesan mixture to the pasta. He quickly stirs the sauce and pasta together to create a smooth, creamy sauce that coats the pasta evenly.

Finally, Oliver demonstrates how to make a lemon and herb pasta dish that's light, fresh, and perfect for a summer day. He starts by cooking pasta and setting it aside. He then thinly slices a lemon into rounds and removes any seeds. He minces fresh herbs, including basil, parsley, and thyme.

Oliver then heats olive oil in a large skillet and adds the lemon slices, allowing them to caramelize for a few minutes. He then adds the cooked pasta to the skillet, along with the minced herbs, and tosses everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the lemon and herb sauce.

As the episode comes to an end, Oliver presents all three pasta dishes, and emphasizes how simple and easy it is to turn simple ingredients like pasta, bacon, eggs and herbs into a delicious and satisfying meal. He encourages viewers to experiment with different ingredients, sauces, and recipes to create their take on these classic pasta dishes.