Ep 7. Pasta Party

Lidia's Kitchen is a heartwarming cooking show featuring the beloved Italian chef Lidia Bastianich. In season 6 episode 7, titled Pasta Party, Lidia dives into the ultimate comfort food: pasta. With her signature enthusiasm and expertise, she shows viewers how to make different types of homemade pasta and delicious sauces to accompany them.

The episode starts with Lidia demonstrating how to make fresh egg pasta. She kneads together flour and eggs to form a smooth dough and then feeds it through her pasta machine to create fettuccine. Lidia emphasizes the importance of using high-quality ingredients and taking your time to create perfect pasta. She then shows viewers how to make orecchiette, another classic pasta shape from the Puglia region of Italy. She shapes the little ear-shaped pasta by hand, explaining that it's a great activity to do with children or as a group.

Next up is a classic red sauce, perfect for topping spaghetti or another long pasta shape. Lidia simmers tomatoes, garlic, and red pepper flakes together to make a simple but flavorful sauce. She sprinkles in fresh basil at the last minute, creating a bright and fresh finish to the dish.

Moving on to a cream-based sauce, Lidia creates a rich and indulgent tagliatelle with mushroom sauce. She sautés a variety of sliced mushrooms, adding chopped onion, garlic, and fresh thyme to the mix. She then adds heavy cream to the pan, letting it simmer and thicken with the mushrooms. Lidia calls this dish "pure comfort" and notes that it's a great option for a dinner party or date night.

Another classic pasta dish is carbonara, which Lidia prepares with pancetta and egg yolks. She crisps up the pancetta in a pan and then adds a bit of garlic. She removes the pan from heat and adds in beaten egg yolks and plenty of grated cheese. The residual heat from the pancetta and pasta is enough to cook the eggs and create a creamy and luxurious sauce. Lidia serves this pasta alongside a salad of bitter greens and radicchio, which helps balance out the richness of the carbonara.

As a final pasta dish, Lidia prepares an elegant and refined dish of pappardelle with shrimp and lemon. She cooks the pasta until al dente, adding cooked shrimp, garlic, and lemon zest to the pan. She then squeezes in some lemon juice and adds a bit of pasta water to create a light sauce. Lidia finishes the dish with chopped parsley and a sprinkle of grated cheese.

The episode concludes with Lidia sitting down to enjoy her pasta feast with her family and close friends. She reminds viewers that pasta is more than just a comfort food – it's something that brings people together and invites connection and community. Lidia's joy and passion for food is infectious, and her recipes are accessible and easy to follow along with.

Overall, season 6 episode 7 of Lidia's Kitchen is a celebration of pasta in all its forms. Lidia shares her tips and tricks for creating perfect pasta dishes, from classic red sauce to indulgent carbonara. This episode is a must-watch for any pasta lover or home cook looking for inspiration in the kitchen.