Italian cuisine is beloved around the world for its simplicity and use of fresh seasonal ingredients. Here are 20 fresh spring dinner ideas that you can whip up at home this season! These are all traditional Italian recipes from the PIATTO cooking channels—most include video recipes so you can follow along step by step!
1) Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe
You may think of Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe as a heavy dish, but that’s because you aren’t making it like an Italian 😉 The classic recipe has just 3 ingredients (not including the hot pasta water). We’ll show you the foolproof way to whip this dish up in minutes.
2) Real Pasta Primavera
Believe it or not, “Pasta Primavera” isn’t actually an Italian dish. However, it is inspired by several real spring and summer Italian pasta recipes—For instance this recipe with penne featuring a classic mix of spring summer veggies (Vignarola Romana).
3) Pesto Pasta (Pesto alla Genovese)
Pesto pasta is a popular Italian dish that is especially popular during the spring and early summer months. It is a simple and delicious pasta dish made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmigiano cheese, and olive oil. We love pesto pasta because it is easy to make and can be customized to suit any taste. We prefer a mortar and pestle for this job—the traditional tool for getting the freshest flavor from your pesto! We’ll show you what product we use and how you can get this Made in Italy product on Amazon. Toss the pesto with cooked pasta and serve!
4) Baked Sea Bass with Potatoes and Tomatoes
Yes, you have to turn the oven on for this recipe, but its super easy and ready in minutes. This is a classic fresh spring dinner recipe from the Italian island of Sardegna.
5) Pasta alla Gricia
In all fairness, most Italians eat pasta for lunch. But these Roman pasta dishes make for the perfect spring dinner idea if you enjoy pasta for dinner. We’ll show you how to make this recipe the classic Roman way.
6) Best Italian Steak: Tagliata
Ah, Tuscan Tagliata! We’ll show you how to make steak to perfection just as they do in Tuscany. So fast and easy in a pan.
7) Spaghetti with Clam Sauce
Fresh seafood with pasta is the perfect light spring dinner! Don’t know how to prep clams? No worries, we’ll share all of the secrets to creating the perfect clam sauce.
8) Spaghetti with Mussels and Clams
Even easier and cheaper than Spaghetti with Clams? Spaghetti with Mussels and Tomatoes! A fast and tasty Mediterranean Diet recipe.
9) Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
This fast and easy pasta recipe is beloved in Italy all year round.
10) Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette
A traditional dish from Puglia, this easy and nutritious recipe features ‘little ears’ pasta and tasty broccoli rabe.
11) Penne alla Vodka with Smoked Salmon
Vodka brings out otherwise imperceptible flavors in this amazingly tasty and easy pasta recipe!
12) Puttanesca Pasta
Another classic Mediterranean diet recipe with olive, capers and anchovies (optional), this pasta dish is a fresh choice for a fast spring dinner.
13) Caprese Pasta
This is one of our favorite lunch and dinner recipes—fresh and fast and packed with seasonal spring and summer ingredients.
14) Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Bottarga!
This take on Spaghetti Aglio e Olio features a special local ingredient from the island of Sardegna: Bottarga! This has become one of our favorite spring dinner and lunch recipes, and we use the best mortar and pestle Made in Italy to keep the garlic and bottarga fresh and maximize the flavors.
15) Spaghetti alla Nerano
Spaghetti alla Nerano with fried zucchini and provolone has become more popular since Stanley Tucci featured it in his TV series on Italian food. There are a few ways to make this pasta dish and still have it be considered ‘traditional.’ This dish is much faster to make if you own a deep fryer which makes frying the zucchini a breeze.
16) Pizza (Roman Style Pan Pizza)
Pizza is a staple of Italian cuisine, and margherita pizza is one of the most popular varieties. We make this pizza recipe at home every Friday! To make a classic margherita pizza, simply top a pizza crust with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Bake in the oven until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbly. But Margherita is just one way to top our high hydration pizza dough recipe—so be sure to mix it up and try all of these pizza topping ideas!
17) Panzanella Bread Salad
Panzanella is a favorite in our family during spring and summer dinners. It’s soooo fresh and easy. Our family follows the recipe traditional to Marche rather than the ‘crouton’ style panzanella popular in other regions of Italy. You’ll love it!
18) Garden Pasta
Garden Pasta is likely another inspiration to the “Pasta Primavera” popular in the US and elsewhere. This recipe features spring and summer veggies and an easy, creamy Parmigiano sauce.
19) Herbed Salmon
We got this recipe from PIATTO’s Nonna Lulu! A super easy Herbed Salmon recipe you can prepare in a pan or on the grill for a fresh spring dinner.
20) Caprese Salad
Caprese salad is a simple yet delicious Italian salad made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. It is a perfect dish for spring and early summer, when fresh tomatoes are at their best. Americans love caprese salad because it is easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. To make a classic caprese salad, simply slice fresh mozzarella and ripe tomatoes, arrange them on a plate, and top with fresh basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
In conclusion, Italian cuisine is a favorite of many Americans, particularly during the spring and early summer months. From caprese salad to panzanella and many easy pasta recipes, there are many delicious Italian dishes that will satisfy your need for flavor and freshness for a spring dinner.