This light summer tagliolini pasta recipe from a restaurant in Bologna is really tasty, fresh and healthy. It’s also has a no-cook sauce, meaning all you have to cook is the pasta. So, perfect for summer and easy week night meals.
Tagliolini Estivi.
I first came across this recipe in a huge Italian recipe book I bought last year. This book has 5,000 regional recipes. Not all are pasta, of course, but there are a lot of delicious sounding pasta dishes in it that I want to make!
The recipe origins.
According to the author of the above mentioned book, this summer tagliolini recipe was invented by Irene Diolaiti, the owner of Da Cesari restaurant in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. I looked up the restaurant on the Internet and found a photo of this dish in their photo gallery. It looked so good, I decided to give it a try!
This isn’t a typical summer pasta salad recipe because it’s made with fresh tagliolini. Most pasta salads, or ‘pasta fredda’ as the Italians say, are made with short pasta types. However, tagliolini is a long narrow egg pasta that’s usually eaten fresh and is popular in Emilia Romagna, Liguria, Piedmont and Molise.
I have one other summer pasta recipe here on the Pasta Project that’s similar to this recipe. Vermicelli di Positano is made with a long pasta (vermicelli) and the condiment is marinated raw veggies and herbs. The main difference between the two dishes is that this summer tagliolini recipe has a greater variety of raw veggies, whilst the vermicelli recipe has more herbs. Both are delicious!
The vegetables.
This summer tagliolini pasta recipe is brilliant for really warm days when you just can’t face standing over a hot stove! It is fresh, tasty and healthy! Some of the raw veggies also add a bit of crunch to the dish! Because the vegetables are only marinated, I chose to buy organic veggies. Here in Italy, organic vegetables and fruit are more expensive than the normal ones available in supermarkets. But, when it comes to eating raw, I prefer to use them. Also organic veg tastes better in my opinion.
This summer tagliolini pasta recipe has fresh cherry tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, celery and red bell peppers, all cut into small cubes. There’s garlic, basil and lemon juice to add more flavour and I marinated everything in very good extra virgin olive oil for an hour before mixing the pasta with the vegetables.
The pasta.
The other step that adds flavour to this recipe is that the pasta is cooked in beef broth. You can use vegetable broth to keep it vegetarian. I used homemade beef broth. However, a good ready-made stock cube added to the pasta water would add extra flavour too!
Fresh tagliolini is the pasta of choice for this recipe. But, you can make it with dried pasta such as spaghetti, vermicelli or linguine. Fresh fettuccine would be a good option as well.
I’m sure, once you try this simple but delicious and nutritious summer tagliolini pasta recipe, you’ll love it as much as I do. Let me know what you think by commenting here on the website or on the Pasta Project Facebook page. I’d love to get your feedback
Buon appetito!
If you like Italian summer pasta recipes or pasta salads why not take a look at these recipes too:
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This recipe was first published in 2018 but has been updated.
Summer tagliolini pasta recipe with marinated raw vegetables
Ingredients
- 400 g fresh tagliolini pasta (14oz) you can also use other long pasta
- 2 celery stalks
- 2-3 zucchini depending on size
- 3-4 carrots depending on size
- 2 red bell peppers
- 15 cherry tomatoes washed and cut in half
- ½ lemon juice
- 1 bunch fresh basil washed
- 2 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
- 500 ml beef/vegetable broth (16floz) or a stock cube. Can be vegetable stock for vegetarians
- extra virgin olive oil as required
- salt for pasta and to taste (don't add salt to pasta water if using stock cube)
- black pepper to taste
- Parmigiano flakes as required (vegetarians will need to use a different cheese or omit the cheese completely)
Instructions
- Wash all the vegetables and then cut into small cubes.
- Put them into a bowl with the extra virgin olive oil, crushed garlic cloves, chopped basil, the juice from ½ lemon, salt and pepper. (Use enough olive oil to coat the veg like in a salad)
- Mix well, cover with cling film and marinate for an hour.
- Bring a pot of water with with beef broth to boil for the pasta (I used half water and half homemade broth) But, if using,a stock cube add to the pasta water. (You don’t need salt if you use a stock cube)
- Cook the tagliolini al dente according to the instructions on the packet in the broth and drain. (Fresh pasta takes about 3-5 minutes)
- Add the drained pasta to the bowl with the marinated vegetables. Then add a little more olive oil and mix together well.
- Add salt and pepper to taste if required. Sprinkle with Parmigiano flakes and serve immediately. This dish should be tepid.
Notes
Nutrition
If you are interested in learning how to make other homemade pasta and different types of gnocchi, check out my shop page for some great video online courses from my friends in Rome! Nothing beats learning to make pasta from Italians! Plus while you’re there why not order a copy of my autumn/winter pasta recipes cookbook!?
Beth says
Great idea to marinate the vegetables so that they become flavorful and tender, and flavor the oil in turn. And since you can use any pasta, it's incredibly versatile.
Nisha says
Love this light and delicious pasta, cooking the pasta with broth is a great idea to flavor it !
Angela says
It was almost 90°F here in California today and a light pasta like this was fantastic.
Nart at Cooking with Nart says
Ooh, I love marinated vegetables. And them in pasta - the best! Thanks for sharing another unique pasta recipe 🙂
Jere Cassidy says
I rarely make a pasta salad but this one really caught my eye with the long pasta, plus all the fresh veggies for a light salad for supper.
Emily says
What a perfect, garden-to-table recipe for summer!
Cookilicious says
Thankfully I have all the ingredients to make this tonight!
Noelle says
Perfect for a summer dinner! I love pasta, no stopping me from eating it in the summer!
Morgan Eisenberg says
I love a good no-cook sauce on a summer day!
Pam Greer says
What a perfect way to use summer vegetables! Cooking the pasta in beef broth adds so much flavor!
Kelly Anthony says
This tagliolini pasta will make the perfect lunch on a hot summer day. I love the fresh flavors this pasta dish has to offer.
Jacqui says
Thank you Kelly! I agree! This is a great summer pasta recipe!
Linda | Brunch-n-Bites says
I love recipe that only requires fresh ingredients. And I can say this is my favorite already!
Jacqui says
Aww thank you Linda! Yes, this is a very fresh pasta recipe. I love that the veggies are just marinated and not cooked! Perfect for summer!
Heather says
I love this fresh and summery twist on a typically heavy pasta dish. Perfect for the hot days ahead of us!!
Jacqui says
Thank you! Me too Heather! This pasta recipe really is a great summer dish. As you say it's light, whereas pasta can sometimes be heavy!
Stephanie Simmons says
This looks so light and refreshing! How perfect for these hot, heavy summer days!
Jacqui says
Thanks so much Stephanie! Yes this really is light and refreshing! A great summer pasta recipe!
Chef Mireille says
I would love to have the variety of so many different pasta cuts - for me I have to go to a gourmet supermarket to get these but I think this would be just as delicious with plain old spaghetti also
Jacqui says
I agree, we're lucky here in Italy to have so many pasta cuts! Tagliolini is one of my favourite long pasta types. But, yes, this recipe can be made with spaghetti. I think it would be just as good!
theresa says
this is a perfect summer dish in every way
Jacqui says
Grazie Theresa! If you like pasta but want a lighter recipe for summer, this one is, as you say, perfect!
Joyce says
Looks like a great summer meal! Light and healthy with lots of veggies!!
admin says
Thank you Joyce! Yes this dish is great for summer. It's fresh and healthy and the only cooking involved is boiling the pasta! Happy summer from Verona! Jacqui
Stine Mari says
All these fresh ingredients! Looks really yummy and perfect for a light Summer meal
admin says
Thanks so much for your comment Mari! One of my favourite summer pasta dishes; light, tasty and easy to make! Hugs from bella Italia! Jacqui
Gloria says
Okay, I am LOVING the marinated veggies. What a great summer meal. I would love this for dinner any night of the week. Perfect for a nice summer meal on the patio, with a glass of white wine.
admin says
The marinated veggies are fab Gloria! I agree perfect on the patio with a glass of wine! Baci from Verona! Jacqui
Helena says
Fantastic pasta! Organic food is pretty expensive but with the recipes like this it totally pays off!
admin says
Thanks so much Helena! Yes I agree even though organic food can be very expensive, it's worth it for dishes like this. Everything tastes so much better! Love from Verona! Jacqui