15 summer pasta recipes

Pasta alla norma

Aubergine is the star here – it's cubed, charred and simmered in a tomato sauce until smooth. We like to eat ours in the garden, piled with parmesan on top.

Baked orzo with harissa prawns

This colourful number matches smoky harissa with prawns – brighten the flavours with fresh dill and a generous squeeze of lemon.

Asparagus and anchovy pasta

Anchovies provide a salty depth of flavour to this summery pasta dish, while the pangrattato topping (fennel-infused sourdough breadcrumbs) bring crunch and colour.

Broad bean, mint and chilli pasta

Got broad beans growing in your allotment this summer? Make them the star of this light pasta dish flavoured with lemon, parmesan, cream, fresh mint and spring onions. We like to make ours with penne.

Orecchiette salad with prawns, basil, feta and tomato caper dressing

The perfect weekend lunch, our orecchiette (‘little ear’) salad is a combination of crumbled feta, cooked king prawns, rocket leaves and a bunch of basil. Whip up a tomato caper dressing to elevate this dish to the next level.

Baked feta pasta

Red, black, green and white, this colourful veg pasta salad would make a great centrepiece for an alfresco lunch. Serve it directly from the dish and let everyone help themselves.

Pasta puttanesca

An absolute classic, puttanesca is the easiest summer pasta dish to make. It requires just one pot and 15 minutes to prepare the olive, tomato, basil and anchovy sauce. Perfect with riccioli pasta.

Roasted tomato orzo

Definitely one for entertaining, this impressive bake sees orzo swirled through a roasted tomato sauce, enriched with a glug of vermouth. Dollops of homemade herb salsa on top give the whole dish a summery lift.

Courgette carbonara

Transform classic carbonara with this lighter, summery take on the dish. Grated courgette takes the lead, with a little egg yolk, parmesan and pancetta added for that signature taste.

Green linguine

Make this linguine to use up an allotment glut – with peas, broad beans, leeks, lemon and ricotta, it's a dish that was designed with alfresco eating in mind. Serve with extra lemon zest on top, if you like.

Tuna, bean and pasta salad

An ideal dish for picnics or eating in the garden, our version of tuna pasta salad includes bite-sized green beans and chewy orzo. Try using dry-cured black olives in this recipe for a salty edge.

Avocado fusilli pasta

Put overly ripe avocados to good use in this clever recipe, made by blitzing avocado, spinach, coriander and lime together for a quick, summery sauce. Top with chopped nuts.

Healthy salmon pasta

Short on time? It takes just 20 minutes to chuck this salmon penne together – it's flecked with dill, peas and lemon zest. Keep it nice and light with low-fat crème fraîche – no one wants a heavy pasta sauce when the sun is shining.

Spaghetti alle vongole

Does it get more classically Italian than clams cooked in a dry white wine sauce? Tossed with samphire, spaghetti, garlic, butter and parsley, this seafood special was made for summer evenings in the garden.