We've embarked on a culinary journey across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana to discover some of the South's best pasta dishes. From classic Italian staples to innovative regional twists, we've tasted and recreated these mouthwatering dishes at home. Each recipe is enhanced with Texas Olive Ranch’s high-quality olive oils, adding a Texan twist to these beloved favorites. Here’s our roundup of must-try pasta dishes with a unique Texan touch and how to bring these flavors into your kitchen.

Texas

Carbone’s (Dallas, TX)—Cacio e Pepe Recipe

Inspiration: Carbone’s serves up a simple masterclass with its Cacio e Pepe, combining the sharpness of pecorino Romano and the bite of freshly cracked black pepper. The result is an elegant dish that is intensely flavorful. To capture this authentic taste at home, we use our Arbequina olive oil, adding a silky finish that ties everything together perfectly.

Key Ingredients: Spaghetti, pecorino Romano, black pepper, butter, Arbequina olive oil.

Il Bracco (Houston, TX)—Spaghetti alle Vongole Recipe

Inspiration: Il Bracco’s Spaghetti alle Vongole embodies coastal Italian cuisine. It features fresh clams cooked in white wine, garlic, and parsley. This dish is light, salty, and deeply satisfying. We enhance the briny flavors with our Texas Olive Ranch  Picual olive oil, which adds a hint of peppery richness to the mix.

Key Ingredients: Spaghetti, clams, white wine, garlic, parsley, chili flakes, Picual olive oil.

Juliet Italian Kitchen (Austin, TX)—Pesto Genovese with Gnocchi Recipe

Inspiration: Juliet Italian Kitchen’s Pesto Genovese celebrates fresh, vibrant flavors. The dish pairs tender gnocchi with fragrant basil pesto, creating a comforting meal that highlights the simplicity of Italian cooking. We recommend using our Coratina olive oil to give the pesto more flavor.

Key Ingredients: Gnocchi, basil pesto, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, Coratina olive oil.

North Italia (Dallas, TX)—Bolognese Recipe

Inspiration: North Italia’s Bolognese is the ultimate comfort food. A rich blend of ground beef, pork, and pancetta is slow-cooked to perfection and then served over fresh tagliatelle. We love recreating this hearty dish at home, using Texas Olive Ranch Coratina to deepen the sauce’s savory notes. It's a dish that brings warmth and satisfaction to every bite.

Key Ingredients: Tagliatelle, ground beef, pork, pancetta, tomatoes, red wine, onions, carrots, celery, and Coratina olive oil.

Oklahoma

Stella Modern Italian Cuisine (Oklahoma City, OK)—Duck Confit Ravioli Recipe

Inspiration: Stella Modern Italian Cuisine brings a touch of luxury to the table with their Duck Confit Ravioli. This dish features tender duck confit wrapped in delicate pasta, served with a rich sage brown butter sauce. We elevate the flavors even further with our  Koroneiki olive oil, which complements the richness of the duck and butter.

Key Ingredients: Duck confit, ravioli, sage, butter, Parmesan,  Koroneiki olive oil.

Osteria (Tulsa, OK)—Carbonara Recipe

Inspiration: Osteria’s Carbonara is a creamy, indulgent pasta dish that brings the flavors of Rome to your plate. The combination of pancetta, egg yolks, and Parmesan creates a rich sauce that clings to every strand of bucatini. For a Texan twist, we incorporate Texas Olive Ranch's  Coratina olive oil, adding subtle complexity to the dish.

Key Ingredients: Bucatini, pancetta, egg yolks, Parmesan, black pepper,  Coratina olive oil.

Louisiana

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen (New Orleans, LA)—Shrimp and Crabmeat Cannelloni Recipe

Inspiration: Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen celebrates the bounty of the Gulf with its Shrimp and Crabmeat Cannelloni. This dish wraps succulent seafood in cannelloni pasta, then bakes it in a creamy béchamel sauce with a touch of marinara. We use our robust Coratina olive oil to enhance the richness of the seafood and sauce.

Key Ingredients: Shrimp, crabmeat, cannelloni, béchamel sauce, marinara, ricotta cheese, Parmesan, Coratina olive oil.

Paladar 511 (New Orleans, LA)—Squid Ink Pasta with Crab and Shrimp Recipe

Inspiration: Paladar 511 offers a visually striking, flavor-packed Squid Ink Pasta with Crab and Shrimp. The dish pairs the salty taste of squid ink pasta with a medley of fresh seafood tossed in a garlic and white wine sauce. We recommend finishing this dish with a drizzle of our Koro olive oil Koroneiki to enhance the natural flavors of the sea.

Key Ingredients: Squid ink pasta, crab, shrimp, garlic, white wine, chili flakes, parsley,  Koroneiki olive oil.

These selections showcase the creativity and diverse flavors of our favorite Southern cuisine. Whether you’re dining out or cooking at home, these dishes are a testament to the rich culinary landscape of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Try them out, and let us know which Texas Olive Ranch olive oil you use to make these recipes your own!