no-cook pasta sauces

I crave pasta all of the time; even when I come home starving, I would rather wait for a pot of water to boil and cook some pasta than grab whatever is handy in the cupboard (usually tortillas).  However, it's nice to not have to turn it into a big project when you're in a hurry, very hungry, or just generally being cheap with your food.  Here are some of my favorite quick add-ins to turn pasta from a beautiful snack into a delicious meal:

• Whisk together the juice and zest of one lemon, 1/8 cup of grated Parmesan, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper in a serving bowl.  Add freshly cooked capellini and serve.  

• Combine chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped arugula, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.  Add freshly cooked pasta and sprinkle with Pecorino cheese.

• Drain a can of tuna and toss with pasta, vegetable broth, a bit of pasta water, olive oil, salt and pepper, toasted pine nuts, spinach leaves, kalamata olives, and a dash of lemon juice.

• Add chopped bits of butter, grated Parmesan, and chopped herbs with salt and pepper to pasta shape.

• Toss strands with fresh minced garlic, olive oil, lime juice, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt with fresh chopped herbs (I like cilantro). Grated some Parmesan cheese over the top.  

• Toss the ingredients of a Caprese salad (fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, garlic, olive oil salt, and pepper) with a cooked pasta shape like rotini or medium macaroni shell