Name: Pasta Mama
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 5 oz pasta (dry or fresh, like fettuccini or spaghetti); 2 eggs (beaten); 2 cloves garlic, (minced); 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 1/4 tsp ground oregano; 1/4 tsp onion powder; 1/4 tsp seasoning salt; 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped); 1 tbsp olive oil (or butter); 2 - 3 tbsp reserved pasta water (or water); 1 tbsp grated Parmesan

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A famous restaurant, Hugo’s, in West Hollywood, Calif., has been critically acclaimed for one of its menu items, Pasta Mama—gourmet, world-class fare. And you can make it just like Hugo’s chef for about $1.25 per serving—even at the current high cost of food in the U.S.

Indescribable

The first time I heard about it, I thought it was odd. Pasta with eggs? I couldn’t imagine what would prompt people to drive many miles to get the restaurant’s signature dish, Pasta Mama. But they do, insisting, it’s the best pasta dish they’ve ever eaten. I had to try it; as you might imagine, my family and I love it. I would describe it to you here, but it’s indescribable—indescribably delicious, that is.

Skip the trip

But I don’t drive to Hugo’s to pay $17 (plus tax and tip) for a single serving. Instead, I make it myself, following my copycat recipe below. What a wonderful, simply satisfying dinner—or breakfast—entree.

Pasta Mama* takes about 10 minutes from start to finish and feeds two for a total of about a buck-twenty-five per serving. Don’t worry, the recipe can be easily doubled, with excellent results.

RELATED: Simple Tips to Stretch the Food Budget

At that price, you have little to lose if you try it and don’t like it, but chances are really good that you’ll love it.

In fact, I won’t be surprised to hear that you’ve added Pasta Mama to your family’s list of favorite meals. Serve it once a week and your grocery budget will love you.

You’ll need:

(Complete printable recipe below)

pasta, spaghetti, or fettucini
eggs
fresh garlic
garlic powder
ground oregano
onion powder
seasoning salt
fresh parsley
olive oil
pasta water
Parmesan cheese

*Hugo’s Pasta Papa has additional toppings of bacon, turkey sausage, and scallions, for $20.

A plate of gourmet-quality Pasta Mama from Hugo's Restaurant, West Hollywood, Calif.

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4.56 from 9 votes

Pasta Mama

People drive for many miles to enjoy Pasta Mama at Hugo's, the famed restaurant in West Hollywood, Calif. Here is a quick, easy and super cheap way you can save the trip and make it yourself in under 20 minutes.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Calories: 307kcal

Ingredients

5 oz pasta dry or fresh, like fettuccini or spaghetti
2 eggs beaten
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ground oregano
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp seasoning salt
2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
1 tbsp olive oil or butter
2 - 3 tbsp reserved pasta water or water
1 tbsp grated Parmesan

Instructions

Prepare pasta according to package directions (or use any kind of leftover pasta).
While pasta is cooking, mix seasonings together in a small bowl and beat the eggs in another bowl. Set both aside.
Pour oil (or melt butter) in a 10-inch saute pan. Add minced garlic and the entire amount of seasoning mix (should be 1 teaspoon total).
Saute for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add parsley; add hot pasta right out of the cooking water along with one tablespoon of pasta cooking hot water. (If you are using leftover pasta, make sure it is hot!)
Add the beaten eggs. Mix thoroughly (stir hard and fast alternating with tossing it in the pan using tongs. You want the egg to coat the pasta, not turn into a side of scrambled eggs 🙂 Add more pasta water as needed if it looks dry.
Add Parmesan. Toss and allow to cook for an additional 30 seconds. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Pasta Mama has as many variations as you can dream up. To make it Pasta Papa, add anything you would put in an omelet—other cheeses, sausage, bacon, chicken; adjust seasonings to taste. Enjoy!

MORE: Soups to Soothe the Soul and The Budget

Original 2-13-2015; Revised & Updated 1-22-2023

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Darlene A DiMaria says:

January 30, 2023 at 6:33 pm

Many, many years ago I found a recipe called “Pasta Pie a la Bison” which mixed spaghetti with eggs, parmesan cheese, melted butter and a few other ingredients to use as the crust for pie. We loved the crust so much that I would sometimes make it to eat on a plate instead of making it into the pie crust. Funny to see the basic part of this old recipe from Bison having more spices added to then become a signature dish of a famous restaurant. Old recipes coming around again and made new!

Pat A Weiser says:

January 22, 2023 at 8:19 pm

Carbonara is done all types of ways, usually with pancetta or bacon, but this would be one version of it.

Budget Bites: Pasta Mama (Gourmet World-Class Dish)

Indescribable