In 'Pasta', hungry and impatient gourmets will find more than 50 delicious fresh or dry pasta dishes, all within the reach of the keen cook, many achievable in minutes. Pasta's huge variety of shapes, textures, colors, and flavours make it the ideal ingredient for starters, salads, main courses with meat, seafood, or vegetables - - and even desserts (ravioli filled with chocolate!). Gratins, ravioli, or spaghetti are part of our everyday life, and this cookbook will prove indispensable for all those who love unfussy yet utterly delicious food. Clear and detailed instructions are given for making your own fresh pasta, coloring it with beetroot juice or parsley, and adding some aromas like spices or herbs. Cooking tips make even beginners feel confident about their ability to try variations on old classics - - spaghetti carbonara with quail eggs, the true gratin of macaroni, or lasagna with parmesan - - or to explore truly unusual ideas, like green-tea flavored tagliatelle with scampi cooked in ginger. AUTHOR: French chef Valery Drouet is a regular contributor to the food pages of women's magazines, the author of numerous cooking books and a food stylist for the advertising industry. Pierre-Louis Viel is a professional photographer specializing in food and table decoration. 100 illustrations
