3 Healthy Italian Pasta Dishes for Summer

The onset of summer encourages us all to adopt a healthier lifestyle and diet, and we could all benefit from taking inspiration from the Italian dinner table. Portions are small but nutritious and dishes are rich in olive oil, fresh seasonal vegetables, lean meat and fish. Delve into a delicious summer with three healthy pasta dishes.

Lemon and Asparagus Pasta

Ideal for early summer while asparagus is still in season, this dish is creamy yet fresh and low in calories. To whip up this delicious recipe, start by bringing 200g of spaghetti or pasta to the boil. As the pasta is cooking, heat a griddle pan and griddle the asparagus until it’s soft and slightly charred. Chop and leave to one side. Next, drain the pasta and pour it back into the pan, adding rocket leaves and lemon zest. On a low heat, stir in low fat crème fraiche and lemon juice. Serve, and add the asparagus and a sprinkling of parmesan.

Image: detoxinista.com

 Hearty Tomato Pasta

Artichoke hearts put an unexpected twist on a classic tomato sauce recipe, infusing the dish with their savoury-sweet flavour. To start, put your spaghetti on the boil. In a separate pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil and add a crushed garlic clove. Cook until coloured then add a can of chopped tomatoes. Leave the mixture to simmer. As it simmers, take your jar of artichoke hearts and cut them into smaller chunks. Add them to the tomato sauce. Next, drain the spaghetti and return it to the pan. Mix in the tomato sauce and serve, adding a pinch of parsley.

Image: tasteofhome.com

Salmon Penne

Protein, flavour and flair; this recipe has it all. To make this tasty light bite, season a salmon fillet as your pasta starts to cook. Pop it in the oven to bake for around 20 minutes and prep the other ingredients. You will need to mince a clove of garlic, finely chop a handful of basil leaves, zest and juice a lemon and grate or shave a serving of parmesan. Once that’s done, your pasta should be ready. Drain and return it to the pan, adding the garlic, basil, lemon juice and zest, and a generous dash of olive oil. Remove your salmon from the oven and gently flake it into small pieces. Toss the salmon with the pasta and serve with a little parmesan.

Image: thecookingjar.com

Which dish will you try first?