Butter pasta is a pasta dish made with butter, cooked pasta and seasoning spices and herbs. Additional ingredients like vegetables or meats may also be contained in various versions of the dish. Butter is used for the preparation of a sauce base for the dish or for sautéing herbs before tossing with cooked pasta. This flavorful pasta is most often served as a starter or a side dish, and can be prepared in different ways as well as with different additional ingredients to make versions like Shrimp Butter Pasta or Chicken Butter Pasta.

Preparation  Overview of Butter Pasta

Ingredients: Butter, pasta, herbs like oregano or basil, and seasonings like salt and pepper are the ingredients suggested by the butter pasta recipe. Ingredients such as flour, milk, garlic, onions, tomatoes and vegetables and meats of one's choice may be included in the dish.

Method of Preparation: A basic version of the dish can be prepared by simply tossing together cooked pasta, heated and melted butter, flavoring herbs, salt and pepper. A garlic flavored version is prepared by sautéing the garlic in heated butter and then tossing with cooked pasta, seasonings and grated cheese.

Many versions entail preparation of a sauce, which may be prepared with a mixture of heated margarine and butter, followed by addition of ingredients like garlic powder, cayenne salt, pepper and milk. Another sauce may be prepared by sautéing garlic in heated butter and then adding in heavy cream and seasonings. The contents are cooked and lemon juice and grated cheese are added in, and the sauce is served over cooked pasta.

Serving Butter Pasta

Butter pasta can be served as an appetizer, side dish or a main dish. Common accompaniments are breads and salads. The pasta can be garnished with grated cheese before serving.

Butter Pasta Recipe Variations

• Herbed Butter Pasta: This is prepared by tossing together cooked pasta, butter, salt, pepper and herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano, dill or marjoram.
• Lemon Chive Butter Pasta: This can be made by tossing together cooked pasta, grated lemon peel, butter, snipped chives and seasonings.
• Lemon Butter Pasta: This can be prepared by heating melting butter over low heat, and stirring in lemon juice, grated lemon peel and lemon pepper. The cooked pasta is tossed with this sauce while hot.
• Broccoli and Mustard Butter Pasta: This can be prepared by blending softened butter with mustard, crushed garlic and seasonings. This is tossed with cooked pasta and broccoli (both of which have been cooked al dente) over low heat to make the pasta.
• Shrimp Butter Pasta: This version is prepared by cooking onions, shrimp and seasonings in heated butter, after which cooked spaghetti, cubed tomatoes and grated cheese are mixed in.
• Burnt Butter Spaghetti: This is made by melting butter to burning point and then pouring over cooked spaghetti with seasonings, finely chopped parsley and toasted pine nuts. The dish is garnished with grated cheese.