One pot pastas have been an obsession of mine ever since I saw them pop up on the internet. I’m pretty sure the first one I ever came across was Martha’s, but I never actually got around to making it. Years went by and I finally, finally got around to giving one pot pasta a try and oh my gosh, I can honestly say I do not know why I went all those years without making it.
To be honest, I was a little skeptical of one-pot pastas. I didn’t really understand how everything could come together. I’ve always, always cooked pasta separately – even when I’m making a noodle soup, I’ll cook the noodles on the side and then add them into the broth. So it was with a bit of hesitation that I made this. I went with some super spring-time flavours because the past week has just been absolutely gorgeous. Of course today is incredibly gloomy again – spring isn’t here just yet.
While I’m waiting for those bright and fresh spring days, I’ll be filling up on one-pot meals. This came together quickly and I was really pleased with the silkiness of the sauce. Lots of pasta recipes actually call for a bit of pasta water to bind – the starch that is released when pasta is cooked is similar to the starch released when you make a risotto, so the theory behind one pot pasta is sound. The result: a silky, slightly sticky thick sauce flavoured with garlic, red pepper flakes, much like the classic aglio e olio. I didn’t use any cheese in this recipe and I found that I didn’t miss it at all. Don’t forget the squeeze of lemon at the end – it adds just the right amount of brightness and acid to go with the scallops.
I hope you guys give this recipe a try! And to encourage you even more, I’m hosting a giveaway of the braiser I used to make it! See below for details.
One-Pot Lemon Scallop Pea Spaghetti Recipe inspired by The Faux Martha
serves 3-4
prep time: 10 minutes
cook time: 15 minutes
total time: 25 minutes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 lb small scallops
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1/2 pound spaghetti
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about 1/4 cup juice)
- 3/4 cup peas, defrosted
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped flat leaf parsley
- red pepper flakes, to serve
- salt and freshly ground pepper
Pat the scallops dry and season all sides generously with salt and pepper. Heat up a small amount of olive oil over medium high heat and cook the scallops until golden brown on both sides, 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and turn the heat to medium. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring, until the garlic is slightly golden, but not brown, about 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and uncooked pasta. Bring to a boil and then turn down to low. Cover and cook for 8 minutes.
Remove the cover and simmer to reduce the sauce, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the scallops, defrosted peas, lemon juice, lemon zest, and flat leaf parsley. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste and enjoy hot!
Giveaway: I’ve paired up with Le Creuset to give away one gorgeous braiser in the winner’s color of choice! I am seriously in love with mine – it’s perfect for making one-pot pastas!
Enter: To enter, leave a comment below with your favorite pasta memory. I want to hear ALL the details! I’ll randomly choose a winner and notify them through email. Open to US residents only. (Sorry international friends!) Also, if you’re feeling so inclined, please vote for me on the Munchies. It won’t get you an extra entry, but it will be bonus karma! Contest ends March 4th at 12pm PST. Good luck!
Update: Congrats Ace! Get ready for the one pot pastas because a braiser is heading your way! Keep your eyes peel for an email from me!
Since I grew up in a big family, my mom always cooked budget friendly meals. Pasta was on the menu at least once a week! When I was little, I asked my mother how she learned to make such delicious pasta sauce. She told me her mother taught her, and then explained to me that when I was a bit older, she would teach me too. When I moved out, I craved that sauce… I needed that sauce. I missed the comforting scent of marinara as it bubbled away on the stove all afternoon. The aroma to this day creates a hunger in me like no other. I go from hungry to hangry instantly (you’ve been warned). I was determined to learn how to cook it, so I asked my mom for her recipe. It was the first thing I ever cooked. My sauce will never taste the same as it did growing up, but thanks to my mom, I am able to have a little slice of heaven when the craving becomes unbearable.
My favorite pasta memory actually happened during a difficult time. I was visiting my parents’ house right after a particularly painful breakup. My mother noticed I was unable to hide how heartbroken I was, and quietly headed to the kitchen (without commenting much). It had been years since she made homemade pasta from scratch (she used to moreso when we were young, especially flat noodles for lasagna), but she did so that day, just to cheer me up– fresh fettucini noodles, hand cut, served in a simple marinara sauce. It did a lot to improve my mood and general outlook on life… I’ll never forget it, or how powerful food can be in this way!
I have an amazing memory with the ever great dish – Pasta! I just arrive in Rome for my study abroad experience. I had been traveling through Europe for a few weeks before arriving in Rome and I was so excited to start this new adventure! I met my roommates in our fabulous apartment and we decided to head to a local restaurant for dinner and to get to know each other. We ended up at the Pizzeria San Marino which was fairly close to our apartment. I had a delcious dish with mushrooms, basil, and the freshest pasta I had ever tasted. It was a wonderful welcome into Roman lifestyle!
Ashley
Pasta has been one of my favorite foods for as long a I can remember, but my favorite pasta memory is every time we visited my Grandmother she made the best pierogi with Farmers sausage.
My mom was a meatloaf and baked chicken kind of mom, but on some rare occasions she would make her signature spicy sausage pasta. It’s one of my fondest memories, and I still request that she make if anytime I’m home (which sadly isn’t often since we live so far apart). It’s so lovely to share a comforting dish with your momma!
Spag bol from Marcella Hazan. Made it for the first time while sick – now my go-to comfort food.
My favorite pasta memory is a new one: making homemade fettuccine with my two young sons. They love watching and helping as the dough transforms into the most delicate pasta imaginable.
My favorite pasta was some linguine with squid, orange, zucchini, tomatoes, and a touch of curry that we had in Cinque Terre in Italy. One of my favorite food memories!
My favorite pasta memory is when I was in Firenze at this little restaurant and I got fresh pasta with wild pigeon ragú. It was the best meal of my life! I had no idea what to expect with the pigeon; what a weird choice of protein! But the little bits of pigeon spread throught the sauce just melted in your mouth. The sauce itself was absolutely delizioso! Taking the risk of trying a weird food definitely paid off. Hands down best and most memorable meal of my life!
My favorite pasta memory was a party that my best friend from University threw for my 21st in Cape Town South Africa. The Italian flag was draped overhead and the food was simply sublime.