Pasta? Won’t your taste buds die??
As I cut the red peppers into inch long strips and busied myself getting the colorful medley of vegetables ready to be sauteed, I also reached out for the phone to talk to my mom. It is part of my morning routine much like lighting lamps or drinking kaapi. After the initial pleasantries, she asked as is her wont “What is for lunch today?”. “Pasta” I replied. “Pasta? Won’t your taste buds die??” came the response.
For a moment I was stunned. Not that my mom is a pasta lover. No she is not. But neither is she in my mind someone who believes in rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My FIL saying something like this would have been totally normal. Expected even.
So, I went on to expound her on the benefits of whole wheat pasta and why my taste buds will be alive and well for a long long time. After I hung up, I forgot about the conversation and went about getting ready for work. As I was racking my brains on what to write today, it struck me that what my mom said was not too far from what I think myself. If I believed pasta the way it is made authentically was good enough for my taste buds, would I go out of my way to spice it with ginger garlic pickle? Or spoon in generous amounts of a tasty red pepper spread? Or even overpower the delicate flavors with a dash of mint chutney for good measure? Or garnish it with finely minced coriander leaves? Probably not.
May be I am scared my taste buds will die.
Laksh!
Just yesterday when I had a conversation with amma and mentioned that Nandu loves Pasta, this was the exact same sentiment that she conveyed to me. And today, my sister
Guess they need their regular dose of ‘desi’ pasta to feel good about it
Laks
@Laks: They sure do! Planning to force it down amma’s throat this weekend
I love pasta though, with or without the desi ingredients…it’s too rich-a- comfort food for my tastebuds to consume daily, but give me a creamy alfredo anyday and I am a goner. Easy to make too, that beats everything in my dictionary. Eh.. the cooking dictionary I mean.
@UL: Never tried the alfredo though. Find it too creamy.
Totally with you on that its easy to make.
heaven on earth, you should try it sometime – you dont have to make it creamy, just a splash of the dairy would do – but fresh parsley and seasonings with a dash of paramesan to top…my my – I am already panting!
@UL: May be I will get you to make it for me one day.
Authentic Pasta with mint or basil pesto (you make the pesto at home) sure is yummy…None of my pasta dishes have desi ingredients……Probably it is time for me to try your pasta with desi stuff…..If you can muster alfredo pasta….I dare you to try it…though it is too creamy for some…
that’s a deal, the only thing I can cook without mess up…or maybe not
@Arch: Guess I will have to try out “authentic” pasta at home. The ones I have tried in restaurants never really did cut it for me.
I totally agree with Arch and UL. Though not a huge Alfredo fan, you need to try the creamy tomato sauce, pesto (basil or even coriander), ravioli – it is all drool worthy
Easy to cook and scale up too – if I call more than 4 or 5 folks home, I typically go for an Italian menu.
I love this post. Whenever I make pasta, believe it or not, I add a little “curry powder” into the ready- made bland sauce (that comes from the local supermarket shelves)!!
Spillay
http://spillay.wordpress.com
@Akay: I will wait till I visit you to try all the drool worthy stuff you have promised to whip up for me
@spillay: LOL
Guess we are the same no matter where we put down roots 
will do – no problem at all. Meanwhile try out the one that I told you over IM and let me know, how it comes out. May be I will post a few recipes on my blog too.