1 Pasta, 5 ways

To feed four, cook 500 g spaghetti, and...

1. PESTO PASTA

Fold red pepper pesto through spaghetti with half a ladle of reserved pasta water. Top with watercress and a crack of black pepper to serve.

2. Chilli pasta

Pan-fry 3 cloves sliced garlic and 2 sliced red chillies in 3 T olive oil, then toss through the pasta. Serve warm with grated Parmesan.

3. Creamy pasta

Stir 125 g crème fraîche through the cooked spaghetti, then top with blanched fresh peas and fresh mint to serve.

4. Bacon pasta

Pan-fry chopped streaky bacon and sliced button mushrooms until golden, then toss in spaghetti. Serve with lots of black pepper, caramelised garlic and fresh thyme.

5. Tomato pasta

Cook 200 g baby tomatoes in a pan or the oven with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar until they blister. Serve with the pasta, fresh basil and crumbled feta.

SAVING TIP: Cook in bulk - choose an affordable ingredient – a pot of beans or spaghetti goes a long way – and try different pantry-staple combos to give it exciting twists. Great for lunchboxes, or as a super side for suppers. (You could also make a versatile soup, like butternut, and reinvent it with the likes of shredded rotisserie chicken or pumpkin tagliatelle).

Discover more perfect pasta recipes here.