Fina Scroppo, award-winning writer, editor and author of “The Healthy Italian”, shares her tips on how to add some colour to your weekday pasta.

Pasta is a dependable staple in our standard meal plans, and easy sauce switches, fresh vegetable and other creative pairings are easy to incorporate for endless dinner possibilities.

Think Rich Additions  

 Simply tossing pasta with a drizzle of Italian extra virgin olive oil will make your pasta come alive. Or, rely on the comforts of ragù sauces and pasta al forno (baked pastas). If colour and aroma is what you’re going after, a spoonful of fragrant Italian pesto, dusted with some Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO, will do the trick.

Get Creative

Pasta alla Norma is wonderful. Take a twist with grilled eggplant, instead of fried, along with a handful of fresh baby arugula and a sprinkle of finely grated ricotta salata. Finish it with sun-dried tomatoes or pickled capers imported from Italy for even more flavour.

Reinvigorating your menu planning takes little effort when you introduce different pasta shapes – like the smaller, textured bites of orecchiette and cavatelli – to the pantry. Small pasta bites can even make an appearance in appetizers; think a spoonful of saucy pasta in cocktail cups. They’re sure to be the talk of the party.

With pasta on the plate, grab a glass of Italian wine and toast to all your new menu options. Salute!