Going out for date nights is fun, but staying in and cooking can also be really good for your relationship. Much like Paris screams romance, pasta also screams an intimate dinner for two. So, here are some easy-to-make pasta recipes for your romantic date nights at home.

1. Tomato and Basil Pasta

Ingredients:

1 and ½ cup cooked pasta of your choice

1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced

4-6 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 and ½ tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped

½ tsp paprika or to taste

1 tbsp butter

¾ cup pasta water

1 cup parmesan cheese

½ lemon juice

Salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

Method:

Cook the pasta al dente and keep it aside. Before draining the pasta, set aside a cup of pasta water.

In a pan, heat the olive oil over medium flame. Add the garlic and cherry tomatoes and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, until the tomatoes start to get a little mushy. Add the paprika to the mix.

Then, add basil, butter and parmesan cheese to the pan and give it a mix. Gradually, add the pasta water, while continuously stirring to melt the cheese. Keep stirring the mix till it thickens. Then add the juice of half a lemon.

Once the sauce thickens, add the boiled pasta and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Let the pasta cook completely in the sauce and if needed, add additional pasta water.

Once fully cooked, garnish the pasta with some fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

2. Pasta with Vodka Sauce

Ingredients:

1 and ½ cup penne pasta

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

½ cup onion, finely chopped

¾ cup tomatoes, diced

¾ cup heavy cream

1 tsp black pepper

1/3 cup vodka

¼ tsp crushed red chilli flakes

½ cup parmesan cheese, grated

2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped

Salt to taste

Method:

Add some salt to a pan of water and bring it to a boil. Then add the pasta and a little bit of olive oil and stir it. Let the pasta cook al dente.

In a pan, heat the oil and butter over medium flame. Once the butter melts, add the onions and saute till it turns translucent.

Add the diced tomatoes, cream, salt, pepper and chilli flakes for about 2 minutes while stirring occasionally.

Then, add 1/3 cup of vodka and cook for another 4 minutes or so while stirring occasionally. Let it cook till the vodka evaporates and the sauce thickens slightly.

Once the sauce has thickened, add the pasta and give it a good mix. Add pasta water if needed. Cook the pasta in the sauce for another 2-3 minutes on low flame.

Serve the pasta immediately and garnish with parsley and grated parmesan cheese.

3. Fettuccine Alfredo

Ingredients:

¾ cup fettuccine pasta

¾ cup peas, frozen or fresh

3 tbsp unsalted butter

¾ cup heavy cream

½ parmesan cheese, grated

Salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

Method:

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add some salt, followed by the pasta. Let it cook per your preference.

Before the pasta fully cooks, add the peas to it and let it boil along with the pasta.

In a microwavable cup, add the butter and cream and microwave it a few times for 30 seconds each. Heat it till the butter has melted completely and the mixture is steaming.

Drain the pasta and peas and add them into a serving bowl. Add the grated cheese and give it a good mix so that the cheese melts.

Add the butter and cream mix on top of the pasta along with salt and pepper.

Serve immediately.

4. Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

Ingredients:

1 cup spaghetti

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3-4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 tsp red chilli flakes

1 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated

Salt as per taste

Black pepper as per taste

1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped

Method:

In a pot, boil some water along with salt. Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and let it cook. Do not break the spaghetti.

Once cooked, drain the water and keep the spaghetti aside, covered.

Add some olive oil to a pan and heat it on medium flame. Turn the heat to low and add the finely chopped garlic and salt. Cook till the garlic turns slightly brown while stirring continuously.

Add the red chilli flakes to the garlic mix and give it a good mix. Make sure not to burn the flakes.

Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan and mix well. Season the pasta with salt and black pepper as required.

Garnish the spaghetti with some grated parmesan cheese and parsley and serve immediately.

5. Marinara Sauce Pasta

Ingredients:

1 cup pasta of your choice

2-3 medium-sized tomatoes, finely chopped

2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 small onion, diced

1 and ½ tbsp olive oil

½ tsp dried oregano

Chilli flakes to taste

Salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

Method:

Put a pot of water to boil with salt and cook the pasta.

In the meantime, add some olive to a pan and heat on medium flame.

Add the finely chopped garlic, diced onions and chilli flakes and sauté them until golden brown.

Add the finely chopped tomatoes along with oregano and salt. Mix it all well, reduce the flame to low, and cook for about 15 minutes stirring occasionally.

Check the marinara sauce for taste and adjust the seasoning as per your taste.

Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the marinara sauce. Turn the flame to high and give it a good mix so that the sauce coats well on the pasta. Add a bit of pasta water if you want to thicken the sauce.

Drizzle with some olive oil, oregano, and chilli flakes, and serve immediately.

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