The simple and nutritious nudle s mákem is a dish consisting of wide, thin wheat pasta that is doused in copious amounts of melted butter, and then dusted with poppy seeds and sugar. Once considered a rich and luscious meal, today it represents a frugal, but a beloved dish that is enjoyed as a sweet main course or a filling dessert.

Even though it is usually associated with the Czech Republic, the exact origin of the dish is still unknown, while similar varieties are found in many Central and Eastern European countries under various names. In Austria, a similar dish is known as mohnnudeln, prepared with thick and short potato noodles, while the Serbian version from Vojvodina is called rezanci s makom.

Dutch macaroni is a classic pasta dish originating from the Netherlands. Although it might seem weird, the Dutch absolutely adore macaroni, especially the children. This comforting, easy-to-make dish is usually prepared with a combination of elbow macaroni or fusilli, ground beef, leeks, red bell peppers, tomato sauce, optional pickles, oil, and spices such as smoked paprika, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper.

If desired, mustard and Worcestershire sauce can also be added for even more flavor. In order to make the dish, ground beef is browned in oil, mixed with red peppers, sliced leeks, tomato sauce, and spices. The mixture is simmered for a few minutes, and it’s then mixed with cooked pasta. 

Spaghetti al cartoccio is a traditional dish hailing from Abruzzo. The dish is typical of Chieti, and it's made with a special method called al cartoccio, where the ingredients are wrapped and baked in foil. It's made with olive oil, garlic, clams, squid, shrimp, prawns, tomatoes, white wine, parsley, and spaghetti.

The wine used in the dish should, ideally, be Trebbiano d'Abruzzo. The seafood is cooked with garlic, and the rest of the ingredients are added when the liquid from the seafood has evaporated. The pasta is tossed with the sauce, and the combination is wrapped in foil, then baked until the pasta is al dente.

This traditional Portuguese dessert is prepared with pasta, typically of a thin variety such as angel hair or capellini, which are cooked in sweetened milk that is enriched with cinnamon and lemon. When cooked, the pasta is mixed with egg yolks and is then placed in a flat baking pan and left to set.

Before serving, the top is decorated with cinnamon, usually in a crisscross pattern. Aletria is a Christmas staple that can be enjoyed warm or well-chilled.

Granatir or grenadir marš is a simple meal consisting of pasta, onions, and potatoes. It is traditionally heavily seasoned with ground paprika. Due to the inexpensive ingredients and high content of carbohydrates, the dish is a representative of peasant food throughout continental Croatia, particularly in the region of Slavonia, where it is still prepared today.

If the pasta is made without eggs, this dish is suitable for vegans.

Sagne e fagioli is a rustic Italian dish that's often enjoyed in Abruzzo and Molise. It's made by cooking beans in tomato sauce, while strips of homemade pasta are added to the pot near the end of cooking. The homemade pasta noodles are made with flour and water, while the sauce is usually made with tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, chili peppers, and olive oil.

If desired, the dish can be enriched with pancetta or pork rinds. It's recommended to serve sagne e fagioli with a glass of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine.

Anolini is a variety of meat-filled pasta with its origin disputed between the cities of Parma and Piacenza, and the most traditional way to enjoy it is in brodo - cooked in a rich meat broth. This hearty dish is an important part of Christmas traditions throughout the region of Emilia-Romagna.

The family members gather on Christmas Eve to make anolini from scratch – each one is handmade, formed by wrapping a mixture of ground meat, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and breadcrumbs in fresh egg pasta dough. This elaborate task is a great introduction for the festive Christmas lunch, when anolini are cooked in meat broth, preferably the one made in terza, meaning with three types of meat: beef, capon, and pork. 

Ravioli al salmone is a traditional dish and a type of ravioli filled with salmon and a mixture of other ingredients. Although there are numerous variations, the ravioli pasta is usually made with a combination of flour, eggs, and water, while the filling often contains smoked salmon pieces, ricotta, and chives.

The dough is rolled out into a thin sheet, and it's then cut into strips which are topped with the creamy filling. Another layer of dough goes on top, and it's sealed with water. The ravioli are then cut with a special tool, boiled in salted water, and often served in a thin sauce consisting of olive oil, lemon juice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. 

Scialatielli all'amalfitana is a seafood pasta dish prepared with scialatielli, a special pasta variety from the Amalfi region, nowadays popular throughout the coastal area of Campania. Compared to other Italian pasta shapes, scialatelli is a rather recent innovation, created in 1978 by the chef Enrico Cosentino, who has been developing his own pasta variety since the 1960s.

He substituted a part of the eggs in the dough with milk, enriched his creation with basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, and Parmigiano, then shaped the dough in thick, short, linguine-like pasta with a rectangular cross-section. The invention was an instant success and it was even recognized at a local culinary contest.