Ina Garten’s Best Pasta Dishes

Can a cauliflower dish get any better? Ina has turned a classic veggie-forward side dish (with loads of melty cheese) into the main event with the addition of medium shell pasta. Trust us: the notes of lemon and light ricotta add that coastal Italian vibe that we’re all searching for on a summer’s evening.

This beautifully (and surprisingly) light pasta serves up rigatoni paired with sweet Italian sausage in a white wine cream sauce. A little earthy from the fennel, why not serve this dish with a side of her outrageous garlic bread?

If you are in the mood for a traditional dish with a fresh twist, Ina has you covered! By adding some sweet (yet salty) Gruyere cheese, two different varieties of mushrooms and a hint of sherry, the queen of entertaining takes it up a notch, again.

This healthier twist on a classic carbonara from Ina uses green veggies such as tender asparagus, snow peas and fresh, fun-to-pop-in-the-mouth peas to add not only a vibrant colour, but also a balanced taste to the dish.

Wondering what to do with all of your tomatoes and eggplants from the garden this year? How about a two-for-one! In this recipe, leftover tomato and eggplant soup is tossed with cooked pasta, mozzarella and Parmesan, then baked until golden and bubbly.

Nothing screams summer pasta more than using fresh pesto with pine nuts and peas. This light and herbaceous pasta is packed full of summertime flavours right from the garden.

This delicious take on spaghetti and meatballs will leave you wanting more. The meatballs themselves are lightened up with the addition of ground turkey mixed in with flavourful sausage meat. This classic is best enjoyed with some good friends, al fresco if you can, as the sun is setting on a hot summer’s day.

Bow tie pasta is paired with broccoli and lightly tossed in a garlic, lemon and butter sauce. A minimalistic pasta dish for those days when you’re craving comfort and simplicity.

This quick and easy pasta dish proves that pasta may be best when it’s not complicated: This dish comes together in 15 minutes with only five ingredients. Are we serving summer or what?

Rice-shaped orzo pasta is tossed with fresh herbs, lemon, cucumber and feta. Scallions, dill and parsley leave this dish feeling light, flavourful and fresh. Our suggestion? Take this dish to a park and have a picnic.