Recipe Roundup: Simple Summer Pastas

Pasta is the perfect answer to weeknight meals — especially during the summer, when vegetables have never tasted so delicious. Boil a pot of pasta, toss with garden-fresh ingredients, and dinner is served! Here are some of our favorites.

 

Gemelli with Tomatoes, Arugula and Burrata When luscious, creamy burrata cheese hits hot pasta, it melts with the juicy tomatoes and olive oil, forming an irresistible sauce that works its way into the grooves of the twisted noodles.

Pasta with Grilled Vegetables and Herbs This meatless pasta dish combines a medley of grilled vegetables with olives, tangy feta cheese and crunchy walnuts for a satisfying meal.

Spaghetti with Arugula Pesto Replacing sweet basil leaves with slightly peppery arugula gives this pesto some bite. Tossed with hot cooked spaghetti, it’s simple but surprisingly flavorful.

Spaghettini with Summer Squash and Crispy Speck This recipe combines the sweetness of summer squash with the smokiness of Italian ham. It’s also gorgeous to look at!

Conchiglie with Roasted Tomatoes Here is a dish to make when you find grape, cherry or pear tomatoes that are especially sweet, such as Sun Gold, and in a variety of colors, from red to yellow. Briefly roasting the tomatoes with some olive oil and salt releases just enough juices to make a full-flavored sauce.

Stir-Fried Pork and Sugar Snaps with Soba Noodles Newly picked sugar snap peas, young green onions and just a small amount of pork top this Japanese noodle dish with bold Asian flavors.

Torn Pasta with Zucchini and Arugula In this easy-to-prepare dish, lasagna noodles are broken into large pieces before cooking so they resemble rustic torn pasta.

Spaghetti and Mussels with Tomatoes and Basil Briny mussels, sweet tomatoes and pungent basil make a perfect accent for pasta. It’s a lean dish than can make you feel good about indulging in dessert.

Penne with Eggplant, Basil and Mozzarella This dish is at its best this time of year, when you can taste that the tomatoes and eggplant have been ripening under the hot sun. Green peppercorns contribute a pleasant bite; their bright herbal flavor pairs well with the fresh vegetables.

Penne with Pesto, Potatoes and Green Beans In Italy, green beans and new potatoes are classic partners for a pesto-topped pasta.

 

See more summer pasta recipes here.