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Epicurious

Pasta with Gorgonzola and Arugula

There are pasta sauces you can make in the time it takes the pasta-cooking water to come to a boil, and there are those that are really fast—those that can be made in the eight to ten minutes it takes to actually cook the pasta. This is one of the latter, one that boasts just a couple of main ingredients and a supporting cast of two staples.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
1/4 pound ripe Gorgonzola
6 ounces arugula
1 pound cut pasta, like ziti or farfalle
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta and salt it. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat; add the Gorgonzola and cook, stirring frequently, until the cheese melts. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.

    Step 2

    Tear the arugula into bits, or cut it up with scissors—the pieces should not be too small. Cook the pasta until it is tender but not mushy. Remove and reserve a little of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and toss it with the arugula and the cheese mixture, adding a bit of the water if the mixture seems dry.

    Step 3

    Taste and adjust the seasoning—the dish should take plenty of black pepper—and serve.

From Mark Bittman's Quick and Easy Recipes From the New York Times by Mark Bittman Copyright (c) 2007 by Mark Bittman Published by Broadway Books. Mark Bittman is the author of the blockbuster Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.
TagsPastaZitiFarfalleItalianEuropeanGorgonzolaBlue CheeseCheeseDairyArugulaLeafy GreensVegetableMainLunchDinnerVegetarianNut FreeQuickEasy30 Minutes or Less5 Ingredients or FewerWeeknight MealsCookbooks
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