Winter is the season of cosy homes, lavishly laid tables and recipes that taste like home. When temperatures drop and days grow shorter, the body craves foods that not only nourish but also provide comfort and well-being. It’s time for hot dishes, enveloping textures and full flavours: it’s time for pasta.
Pasta is the ultimate comfort food: it makes you feel good, fills you up and, thanks to its complex carbohydrates, releases energy gradually, keeping you feeling full. Plus, it’s super versatile: it goes great with veggies, legumes and rich sauces, giving you endless options for balanced, nutritious meals. In winter, pasta consumption increases because it warms and brings people together.
What’s more, if you choose high-quality ingredients – such as Valdigrano pasta or the Valbio wholemeal and organic range – the result is a genuine pleasure that is good for the body and reflects Italian tradition.
Why choose seasonal vegetables in winter?
Winter vegetables are not only a sustainable choice, but also a surprise in terms of taste and versatility. It’s true: their colours are less vibrant than those of summer vegetables, but they make up for it with more intense flavours and enveloping textures, perfect for warm dishes rich in character.
Cabbage, broccoli, radicchio, leeks, pumpkin and fennel are packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre, ideal for strengthening the immune system during the cold months. The natural sweetness of pumpkin or the bitter taste of radicchio find a perfect balance with Valdigrano pasta, creating recipes that warm the heart and satisfy the palate.
Combining them with pasta transforms a simple first course into a healthy, complete dish with a unique character, ideal for colder days.
Traditional combinations: seasonal comfort food
Rigatoni with broccoli and anchovies
A dish that embodies the essence of Mediterranean cuisine: broccoli, anchovy fillets and extra virgin olive oil for a simple yet intense sauce. Valdigrano Qualità Superiore rigatoni, thanks to being bronze-drawn, capture the sauce in every groove, offering perfect texture.
Fusilli con verza e pancetta
A combination that tastes like home: the sweetness of savoy cabbage meets the flavour of pancetta, while Valbio wholemeal fusilli adds a rustic touch and valuable fibre. The spiral shape traps the sauce, for an enveloping taste in every bite.
Linguine with radicchio and walnuts
An elegant dish that plays on contrasts: the bitterness of radicchio balanced by the crunchiness of walnuts. The thin, flat Valdigrano linguine envelops the sauce for a refined result full of character.
Innovative combinations: creative ideas to impress
Sedani with pumpkin cream and almonds
The sweetness and creaminess of pumpkin meets the crunchiness of toasted almonds. Valdigrano sedani rigati holds the cream soup in its ridges, creating a colourful dish with an enveloping flavour.
Linguine with candied leeks and pink pepper
A refined first course that wins you over with its balance: candied leeks release sweetness, while pink pepper adds a spicy note. Valdigrano Qualità Superiore linguine completes the harmony with its perfect cooking properties.
Wholemeal fusilli with spiced cauliflower and yogurt
A creative and nutrient idea: roasted cauliflower with spices, yoghurt cream and Valbio fusilli for a balanced dish, rich in fibre and with a surprising taste.
Tips for enhancing flavour and texture
• Cook the pasta al dente to maintain its texture.
• Use the cooking water to mix the pasta and sauce together.
• Finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and dried fruit for aroma and crunchiness.
Winter is the perfect season for dishes that combine taste, cosiness and well-being. Pasta with seasonal vegetables is the ideal combination: it offers balance, flavour and satisfaction. With Valdigrano and Valbio, every recipe becomes a quality experience, celebrating Italian tradition with creativity and passion.
