COOL PASTA RECIPES FOR THE SUMMER
Summer pasta recipes may not be as exciting to you as a Hunan stir-fry or a platter of northern-style dumplings, but we know that most people if asked, would refer to this blog as a Chinese cuisine blog.
Because of this, we don’t post a lot of pasta dishes on our site. Nevertheless, you can be sure that they will be given our full attention when we do!
When you don’t want to spend a lot of time cutting and prepping for a variety of Chinese dishes during the summer, these summer pasta recipes are some of our favorites.
Even though you may be amid a summer salad rut (swimsuit panic, anyone?), we recommend that you break from your restrictive eating habits and make one of these mouthwatering summer pasta dishes instead.
1. SALMON PASTA WITH GREEN GODDESS PESTO
One of the main reasons I can stand the summer heat is because of Green Goddess Pesto. This green pesto is made with fresh herbs such as basil, scallions, chives, dill, oregano, and garlic cloves. Salmon and green peas round out the party, and you’ve got yourself a complete feast. As I write this, my mouth is already watering. This is my *favorite* pasta recipe on the blog, and I may be a tad partial because it was my idea. It’s the time! Today! Then There’s Always Tomorrow! However, I strongly encourage you to dive in!
2. SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATO, CAPERS, MINT, AND PARSLEY
While hiking amid ancient ruins and baking on black sand beaches in Santorini, we came up with this recipe for a refreshing post-hike treat. Tomato, capers, and parsley are all well-known, but the generous amount of mint gives this dish its Mediterranean flavor. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another world and gained a new perspective–we did!
When we originally started our blog, this dish was one of our most popular posts. Roasting the vegetables in the oven or grilling them in a skillet is a great way to use up all those summer vegetables! Now you have an incredible home and a tasty summer pasta dish to show for it.
4. SPAGHETTI WITH BREADCRUMBS AND ANCHOVIES
Make this Spaghetti with Breadcrumbs and Anchovies when you want to feel like you’re on a beach in Italy. Crushed red pepper flakes, parsley, and breadcrumbs round out the flavor profile of this dish. As long as you’ve got some white wine or prosecco on hand, you’re good to go for summer spaghetti bliss!
5. BASIL MINT PESTO PASTA WITH TOMATOES AND STRAWBERRIES
The unusual combination of tomatoes, berries, and fresh herbs is a hallmark of summer fare, so why not make the most of it?
6. ROASTED CHERRY TOMATO PASTA PUTTANESCA
To save time over the stove, we created this sauce one summer when we had abundant large tomatoes. Using this Pasta Puttanesca, I was able to satisfy my mother’s ardent desire for pasta with a lot of “fruit” and “veggie.”
Rosé is the go-to summer beverage for everyone, young or old, male or woman (brosé, anyone?). Instead of penne alla vodka, you can simply lean over and pour in some glugs of rosé from the bottle you just opened into the tomato sauce. It’s also a lovely shade of pink. Now that I’ve gone all girlie and (Insta)gram-y, I’m going to bed.
8. ORANGE PASTA
This Orange Pasta dish came from my father’s youth and was passed down to me. Citrus flavor comes through strongly in this dish, made with only a few essential ingredients. Plus, it’s excellent for that carton of orange juice sitting in the back of the fridge for far too long.
9. SOY SAUCE BUTTER PASTA WITH SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS AND SHRIMP
Soy sauce and butter are *always* a winning combo, as evidenced by this spaghetti. White wine, soy sauce, and butter caramelize and soften the mushrooms to perfection. This pasta dish is great with seared shrimp, but who says you can’t substitute grilled chicken for the shrimp?
10. THAI BASIL PESTO PASTA WITH SPICY SHRIMP
Pesto made with plenty of Thai basil and topped with properly seared and spicy shrimp is the star of this Asian fusion dish. You may make it more like an Asian noodle experience by substituting spaghetti with the large, thick rigatoni we used.
11. CHINESE SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE
Even if you’re not quite ready to commit to making one of our more simple noodle recipes, this recipe is a great way to get a taste of Chinese cuisine. Using ground beef makes this dish insanely easy, but it’s even better if you use fresh summer peas!
12. SHIITAKE MUSHROOM TORTELLINI WITH SOY CREAM SAUCE
Indeed, this pasta dish isn’t the most summery or light, but it’s an excellent choice if you’re cooking for a special occasion. Ricotta cheese and wonton wrappers were used to make the shiitake mushroom tortellini, and they were coated in the deliciously creamy soy sauce. Don’t be so hard on yourself!
13. THE PERFECT SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
It’s hard to beat spaghetti carbonara for a no-fuss meal, especially in the summer when you’re looking for quick meals that don’t require much heat. If you can’t get your hands on true guanciale or pancetta (bacon will suffice for those of us who can’t get our hands on the authentic stuff), we’ve got the perfect strategies for you to ensure that you end up with a creamy carbonara and not a mess of scrambled egg and pasta!