Cheese pasta is a dish consisting of cooked pasta and a cheese sauce, and optionally, grated cheese for garnish. The cheese sauce is made with various other ingredients such as flour, butter, onion, garlic, tomatoes and flavoring herbs like basil and spices like red pepper flakes and ground black pepper. Cheeses such as Mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, Swiss and Ricotta are commonly used for such preparations. The dish can be made in many forms by including a variety of ingredients such as chicken, seafood or broccoli. Cheese pasta is served as a first course or side dish in the main course of a meal.

Popular Methods of Preparation of Cheese Pasta

Ingredients: Ingredients suggested by the cheese pasta recipe are as follows-

Pasta: Commercially available pasta, which is commonly used for preparing the dish, can be of two types-

• Pasta all'uovo: This includes egg pasta such as fettuccine or tagliatelle. It is flat in shape and available in varying lengths.
• Pasta di semola di grano duro: This type of pasta is made with semolina, water and salt. It is made in different types of shapes, and is hence more versatile. Some examples are penne and spaghetti.

Cheese: Cheeses such as Cheddar, Ricotta, Swiss cheese, Parmesan and Mozzarella are most often used for the cheese pasta recipe. Grated cheese is added to the sauce at the final stage of cooking process, and heated till it melts. The sauce may be of any type, such as a white sauce made with flour, butter and milk or a tomato sauce made by sautéing onion, garlic, tomatoes and seasonings. The dish may or may not be baked.

Other ingredients: Other ingredients suggested by the cheese pasta recipe are butter, flour, milk, dry mustard, garlic, onions, salt, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, corn, peas and any other meats and vegetables of one's choice. 

Method of Preparation: To prepare cheese pasta, the pasta is cooked in boiling salted water till al dente, after which it is drained and tossed in some olive oil. The sauce may be prepared in many different ways. A white sauce can be made by cooking flour and seasonings like pepper, dry mustard and salt in heated butter and then adding milk and allowing to boil, while stirring continuously. The cheese is stirred into this along with pepper sauce and heated till the cheese melts. This sauce is poured over a serving of pasta, often with chopped and cooked vegetables of one's choice.

A tomato sauce is also a common feature of many cheese pasta dishes, which may be prepared by sautéing garlic, onions, tomatoes and seasonings in heated oil. Cooked pasta and grated cheese is mixed into this sauce, and the ingredients are baked in a casserole dish till the cheese melts.

Serving Suggestions

Cheese pasta can be served in a large serving dish, from which it may be served into smaller bowls or plates. It is served hot as an initial course or a side dish in a main course, and may be garnished with grated cheese, basil leaves or pine nuts.

Popular Cheese Pasta Recipe Variations

• Pasta with Shrimp and Ricotta Cheese: The sauce for this pasta dish is made by sautéing onions, garlic and then adding in ricotta, shrimp, chopped parsley, peas, salt, liquid pepper and nutmeg. The shrimp is allowed to cook, after which the sauce is tossed with cooked pasta and served hot.
• Shell Pasta with Garlic-Parmesan Sauce: This dish is prepared by sautéing garlic in heated butter and then adding in grated Parmesan cheese, pepper and salt. Light cream is added to the mixture, which is stirred till a smooth consistency of the sauce is achieved. The cooked shell pasta is mixed into this sauce and served hot.
• Three Cheese Macaroni: The dish is prepared by baking together cooked macaroni, cheddar cheese soup, milk, seasonings of salt and pepper, fried onions and shredded Cheddar, Parmesan and Swiss cheeses. The mixture is baked uncovered till it has been heated through.
• Pasta with Blue Cheese Sauce: The sauce is prepared by making a white sauce of butter, flour, milk, salt and pepper, into which crumbled blue cheese and sour cream are added, and allowed to heat through but not boil. The sauce is tossed with cooked pasta and cooked chopped vegetables of one's choice, and then optionally topped with more cheese before serving.

Health and Nutrition Facts about Cheese Pasta

Cheese pasta is a calorie-rich yet nutritious dish. Cheese is a rich source of calcium, B vitamin and protein, and its intake is beneficial for bone and dental health as well as for hypertension and for gaining weight. Pasta provides carbohydrates which produce glucose to the body, which is important for functioning of brain and muscles. Pasta is a good source of folic acid, iron and B vitamins. Cheese pasta should be consumed in moderation by people suffering from obesity as it may lead to further weight gain.