This Is What works well with your favourite pasta

When I decided to write on this topic I had no idea if it was going to be a good or a bad idea, you ask why? Well, that’s because pasta (apart from money) cuts across all religion, race, tribe, etc. It’s like a basic or staple food lingua.

I know that just by reading the title of this article you can already mention three to five side dishes that you have already used as servings with your pasta.

Barilla Pasta, Rotini, 16 Ounce Review
Barilla Pasta, Rotini, 16 Ounce – Available from Amazon.com

But then again I have found out that in as much as almost everyone is a pro at cooking pasta, not everyone knows the best side dishes to go with it, and even at that not everyone knows how to cook their most preferred side dishes.

There are always loopholes here and there and even the most experienced chef could get confused sometimes because, hey! We are talking about pasta. So let’s explore some of what I call perfect combos.

Brief history on pasta

Italian pasta

  • The first mention of pasta dates back to Sicily in Italy which was far back in the year 1154 and the Italians made a good job of carrying it with them on all their voyages.
  • A lot of people are of the belief that the Vatican merchant Marco Polo brought it back with him from China in the 13th century, in actuality pasta was invented and made known to the whole world by and through the Italians.
  • Pasta can be either fresh (pasta fresca) or dried (pasta secca), it can be made by hand or by a machine.
  • There are 3 popular Italian cuisines for pasta preparation. It can be as pasta al forno, which is when the pasta is incorporated into a dish that is subsequently baked. Pasta can also be made as pasta in brood, this is when the pasta is part of a soup-type dish.
  • The last version is pasta asciutta (or pastasciutta), this is when pasta is cooked, plated, and served with a condiment or complementary sauce.
  • So let us quickly look at some delicious pasta recipes before heading on to mentioning some of the side dishes and how you can easily cook them.

Pasta recipes

1. Caprese Chicken Pasta with roasted vegetables

This dish is a whole in one. From the pasta to the chicken to the veggies, they are all beautifully mixed, not just veggies but roasted veggies.

Caprese Chicken Pasta with roasted vegetables
Caprese Chicken Pasta with roasted vegetables – Photo from carlsbadcravings.com

If you have difficulty consuming dishes that have too much garlic included or you just don’t like garlic powder like a lot of people you can leave it out. Try this recipe by Carlsbad Cravings.

2. Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce

Just like this recipe on Simply Recipes specifies, you have to brown the beef sufficiently on its own fat to get it just right. It’s fast, simple, and easy with direct pictorial guides to lead you.

3. Lemon shrimp scampi pasta

Before that, I had to introduce recipes from busywifebusylife in articles about pizza.

This time, it is a recipe for lemon shrimp scampi pasta. This is a combination of shrimp with pasta, accompanied by
sauce with butter, lemon, chicken broth, and a few other ingredients.

Lemon shrimp scampi pasta
Lemon shrimp scampi pasta – Photo from busywifebusylife.com

Take a look; it’s really delicious!

4. Creamy Seafood Pasta

This particular pasta type is one of my all-time favourites because of how creamy and tasty it comes out, it can make any well-filled stomach hungry again.

You might not like your pasta dry so try this recipe by Betty Crocker, the addition of the shrimps and mushrooms are a lovely combo.

5. Christmas Eve Confetti Pasta Recipe

Don’t know why the word ‘Christmas was added here, in any case, it is a Good dish, the directions are quite brief so if you like explicit instructions then you might not like it, but if you can make it you should try it.

There is even a breakdown of the nutritional benefits you would be getting should you decide to go for it.

Best Side Dish For Your Pasta

1. Asparagus Prosciutto Bundles with Arugula

This is beautiful as it is artistic. It has a classy look and you should try it.

My recipes made theirs in a conical shape but you could get creative ad make yours in other fun shapes. As far as the result is deliciously inviting, you get the same treat.

2. Crispy Cauliflower with Tomatoes and Dill Recipe

Kim Kushner has this recipe that is easy, simple, and fast to prepare. It is a cut, mix, and bake dish. Try your hands on it and let me know how it goes.

3. Turkey Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Turkey Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Turkey Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts – Photo from mycleankitchen.com

My advice is this serving would be better with a pasta dish with little or no meat so they complement each other better.

As you would agree with me the look is very mouth-watering so it should be a hit.

4. Salad

Salad basically goes with almost every dish you can lay your hands on, this white bean salad recipe by Nerdswithknives is a great one for pasta. A side dish shouldn’t always be plain and this definitely isn’t.

Quick-marinated white bean salad with feta
Quick-marinated white bean salad with feta – Photo from nerdswithknives.com

I would advise you to use really red cherry tomatoes when making yours, this recipe also shows two different styles of serving your salad and you can play around with them. It’s always worth the try.

5. Spicy Parmesan Green Beans and Kale

I made this dish to accompany my pasta but I also found it tasty just eating it alone.

It made me feel like I was on a weight loss plan. The use of the olive oil brought out a better flavour in the dish. Try this recipe by Delicious Orchards and you will love it.

Pasta All Done!!

Penne pasta
There you have it, whichever of the side dishes you decide to pick to serve with your pasta always remember that there is room for a little of this and a little of that.

This means you can make adjustments to the recipes to suit your needs, for example, some of the recipes are measured to serve six people,

You can tweak the measurements to suit the size you want to avoid food waste or unnecessary leftovers.

You can also come up with other ways of designing your servings but be sure to let me know how it goes, I am always here to read your comments and answer any questions you need answers to or clarifications on.

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

Leave a Comment