Product Review- Knorr Lipton Pasta Sides

Are you looking for a quick easy side dish to replace those run-of-the-mill sides you've been serving? Here's an tasty alternative...

I recently decided to try Lipton's new "Pasta Sides" side dish. I've long been a fan of Alfredo Fettuccini, so I started with that flavor, although they make several other varieties. Lipton recently partnered with Knorr, so the packaging has some unexpected designs, but the labeling assures us it will have the "New Name, Same Great Lipton Taste!".

I tried the 4.4 oz size of Knorr Lipton's Alfredo Fettuccini Pasta Sides. The front of the package proudly claims that it will cook in 8 minutes. I like the convenience of a quick cooking side dish. It's the part of the meal that I usually don't think about until the last minute, and I hate for everything else to get cold or strange while I'm figuring out what will go well with my main dish.

This size of Knorr Lipton Pasta Sides is supposed to make just two 1-cup servings. That's perfect for a quiet dinner for two, or for a lonely at-least-I'll-have-leftovers dinner for one. I also like that it's a one pot dish, with no mixing bowls needed.

I put the 1½ cups of water and ½ cup of milk into a saucepan, along with the optional tablespoon of butter. I actually used Lactaid brand milk product, because I'm lactose intolerant. It didn't seem to make any difference. Once it came to a boil I just ripped open the packet of Knorr Lipton's Pasta Sides and dumped it into the pot. I gave it a stir and turned it down a little; high enough to continue boiling, but not so high that it splattered out of the pot.

The noddles and sauce were already mixed together in the packet. Fettuccini, which is the wider flat noodles, and a combination of Parmesan and Romano cheeses (in powdered form). That made it really easy to clean up. I threw the package away and had only the fork I stirred with (which I also used to eat with), and the pot to wash. Oh, and a plate. I could have eaten straight out of the pot, but my life is not that sad yet.

I gave it the occasional stir as directed, and I noticed that all the fluid was boiling away around 6 minutes, so I turned off the heat before it would start to burn to the pot. I let it sit for a couple minutes to thicken and then tasted it. Yummy! This is the easiest Alfredo Fettuccini I've ever made. The sauce was nice and creamy. The flavor was perfect; not too sharp, just a bit of zing, and the noodles were that al dente firmness, not mushy like some of the other products I've tried.

I'm looking forward to trying all the other Knorr Lipton Sides. They make a whole grain version of the Alfredo Pasta Sides, and also a Teriaki Noodles Asian Sides and a Taco Rice Fiesta Sides.

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