Easy Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” ~ Federico Fellini

If you’re looking for easy vegetarian recipes, there’s no better place to get started than with a parade of pasta! Whether dressed with vibrant veggies or luxuriating in a simple but sybaritic cheese sauce – there’s something simply irresistible about steaming billowing bowls of fresh pasta, especially when flanked by a rustic focaccia.

As with most dishes characteristic of Italian cuisine, the compelling draw of pasta is that the possibilities are as varied as the regional diversity of Italy. One can’t go to Rome without indulging in Cacio e Pepe (although you’ll now find this age-old recipe across the menu of trendy Italian restaurants world-over); while Sicily for instance, is synonymous with Pasta alla Norma, named after Bellini’s 19th-century opera.

Gathered here is a collection of these classic vegetarian pasta recipes, as easy to whip up as they are soul-stirringly delicious!

Easy Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

Cacio e Pepe

Literally translating to Cheese and Pepper, this humble yet oh-so decadent pasta can be whipped up with just a handful of staple pantry ingredients. Serve it hot off the stove with a crack more of black pepper and a drizzle of truffle oil.

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Creamiest Mushroom Pasta

A trilogy of fresh mushrooms lends a warm embrace to pasta, their earthiness cutting through the creaminess of an unapologetically-rich sauce, thickened with a roux of butter and flour.

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Pasta Alla Norma

A (slightly) healthier rendition of the classic Sicilian dish Pasta alla Norma, featuring baked aubergine tossed together with a flavourful tomato sauce and pasta. Finish with a blizzard of grated ricotta salata cheese on top!

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Creamy Tomato Pasta

This quick-fix recipe is perfect for those nights when you’re craving comfort in the guise of a creamy tomato pasta but don’t have the time or patience to stand by a stove for it to simmer longer than a few minutes.

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The Perfect Pesto

The beauty of pesto is that it’s a forgiving recipe, open to adaptation using different herbs beyond basil, a variety of nuts and add-ins. This is my version of perfect pesto recipe using cashews for creaminess; parsley for a fragrant hit and oregano for a mild peppery punch!

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Strapponi, Butter & Belper Knolle

Learn to make Strapponi – hand-torn chunks of pasta – at home with just flour and eggs. Once cooked, this pasta is best prepared by gently tossing it with butter, sage and cheese (Belper Knolle is recommended, along with Grana Padano).

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