Summer is the season when nature is at its best. Seasonal vegetables, colourful and full of flavour, are perfect for creating light, nutritious and satisfying dishes. In this context, pasta – a symbolic food of Italian cuisine – becomes the ideal base for enhancing the freshness and simplicity of seasonal ingredients.
A table that smells of summer
Intense scents, outdoor lunches and dinners, tables set in the shade of a pergola, cool drinks and brightly coloured pasta dishes to share: this is the essence of the Italian summer. The warmer months call for dishes that are quick to prepare, light and full of flavour. Summer vegetables – courgettes, aubergines, tomatoes, peppers – become natural protagonists, perfect for enhancing every pasta format, from the most classic linguine to the more rustic sedano rigato.
For lovers of cold dishes, cold pasta is the queen of the season. But even the hot versions – with simple, seasonal sauces – offer unforgettable flavours.
Here are practical tips, combinations and the best Valdigrano formats for a summer to enjoy.
Why choose seasonal vegetables?
Using seasonal vegetables is not only a sustainable choice, but also a way to achieve maximum flavour and nutritional values. In summer, courgettes, aubergines, peppers, cherry tomatoes, green beans and basil are the stars of recipes that speak of sunshine and well-being.
These vegetables are naturally rich in fibres, minerals and antioxidants, and combine perfectly with durum wheat semolina pasta to create complete, light and balanced dishes.
Pasta and summer vegetables: classic matches
1. Cold pasta with cherry tomatoes, basil and mozzarella
A great classic of summer cooking, simple and fresh. Perfect with Valdigrano fusilli or farfalle, which hold the extra virgin olive oil and Mediterranean flavours well.
2. Linguine with courgettes and mint
An elegant and light dish. Valdigrano Qualità Superiore linguine goes well with thinly sliced courgettes sautéed with garlic and fresh mint.
3. Rigatoni with roasted peppers and salted ricotta cheese
Colourful and bold, this dish enhances the rigatoni, whose rough surface welcomes the creamy texture of the peppers and the intense flavour of the salted ricotta cheese.
Creative matches with Valbio whole wheat pasta
For those in search of a touch of originality and a healthier eating style, Valbio wholemeal pasta is the perfect base. Rich in fibre and with a full flavour, it enhances more original combinations:
1. Wholemeal pasta with aubergine and pistachio cream
A cream made by mixing grilled aubergines, a drizzle of oil and chopped pistachios creates an enveloping sauce. Ideal with Valbio wholemeal fusilli.
2. Whole wheat spaghetti with yellow cherry tomatoes and red basil
An explosion of colour and flavour, where the sweetness of the yellow cherry tomatoes contrasts with the intense aroma of the red basil. An impressive vegetarian dish, perfect for summer.
3. Valbio with green beans and light rocket pesto
A summery and fresh variation on the classic pesto. Valbio penne pasta lends itself well to cold dishes that can also be enjoyed in the office or at the seaside.
Nutritional values and benefits
Summer vegetables are naturally low in calories but rich in fibres, water and micronutrients such as potassium, magnesium and vitamins A and C. In combination with pasta, they provide a complete and balanced meal.
Choosing pasta well makes the difference
Valdigrano, with its controlled supply chain and the use of selected durum wheat such as Kronos wheat, offers a superior quality product that is tasty and digestible. Bronze drawing makes the pasta rough and perfect for enhancing any sauce.
For those who love a more natural eating style, there is the Valbio line, with organic, classic and wholemeal formats, ideal for healthy and conscious daily consumption.
Summer is the perfect time to rediscover the pleasure of simplicity in the kitchen. Combining pasta with seasonal vegetables makes it possible to create colourful, light and nutritious dishes that recount the best Italian tradition with an eye to health and sustainability.
With Valdigrano and Valbio, every summer dish becomes an authentic taste experience, designed for those who love to eat well and live better.
