Celebrate Seasonal Vegetables with Pasta
We’ve all been there: after seeing all of that fresh, gorgeous produce at the local farmer’s market or grocery store, you load up your cart, only to get home and realize you have no idea what to do with it all! Luckily, pasta makes the perfect delivery system for healthy foods like produce. It’s delicious enough to make sure even the pickiest eaters get their suggested daily intake of fruits and vegetables. And the recipes are limitless.
In our latest video, Pasta Fits demonstrates a few easy ways to feature fresh, seasonal produce in your next meal.
These recipes are so simple to put together, you can whip them up in just a few minutes. Or invent your own dish by following these tips:
- Watching calories? Swap out ¼ to ½ of the pasta specified in the recipe for the same amount of veggies. (For example, if a recipe calls for two cups of cooked pasta, replace one cup of the pasta with steamed broccoli and red pepper or zucchini and basil.)
- Add a little cheese for a creamy texture. A low-fat cheese like feta, which you’ll find in the video’s Grilled Vegetable Rigatoni with Feta recipe, gives pasta dishes rich texture plus a boost of protein.
- Sprinkle in fresh herbs. Herbs and spices provide a burst of flavor without packing on calories and sodium.
- Throw in a sweet surprise. Fruits aren’t always expected in pasta dishes but can add light, fresh flavors, particularly in summer. Our Pasta with Pears, Spinach, Walnuts & Cherries in Rosemary Garlic Sauce featured in the video has sweetness, a mild tart taste, and crunch that is far from the ordinary pasta dish!
This August we asked Pasta Fits fans what their favorite pasta and veggie combo was in our Veggies Love Pasta sweepstakes. While zucchini with lasagna and spaghetti with bell peppers were popular, the fan favorite was a classic: fettuccine and tomatoes! You can find the recipe here.
Now that you have some inspiration, grab those fruits and vegetables and start experimenting!