Italians keep it light when the weather gets hot but the food is as flavorful as ever. That’s because Italian cuisine is all about fresh vegetables and fabulous cheeses in the summertime. It’s easy to make something cool, light and delicious with Il Villagio!
Some of the most famous flavors of Italy can be savored without much fuss, little cooking and a lot of fresh produce. Pasta is delicious cold and there’s plenty of alluring ways to serve it with vegetables, light sauces and cheeses.
Pasta salads are easy to make and a great way to savor summer freshness. Simply start off with penne or fusilli pasta, chop up some ingredients and prepare your cheeses. Grated Il Villaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano, crumbles of Gorgonzola and balls of fresh Mozzarella are all delicious choices. You can make a fast and scrumptious pasta salad with just a few basic ingredients.
Zucchini and Mozzarella
A simple pasta salad with zucchini and mozzarella is a variation on a classic main dish. Zucchini and mozzarella offers a fresh and intriguing flavor profile that’s perfect for summer savoring. Add tomatoes, basil and a light dose of olive oil for more flavor.
Caprese of Vegetables Salad
Caprese salad is a flavorful and simple Italian salad featuring fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. Add carrots, peppers and eggplant for more variety and turn it into a festive pasta salad by mixing it with fusilli pasta. The acidity of the tomatoes cuts thorough mozzarella’s luxurious texture for a delightfully zesty finish.
Parmigiano-Reggiano, Bacon, Spinach & Pine nuts
To make a pasta salad that’s truly full of contrasting textures and bold flavors, start with penne pasta and add chopped spinach, bacon bits and crunchy pine nuts. Add assorted summer vegetables like peppers and tomatoes and top with a generous amount of grated Il Villaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Fruity Green Salad with Gorgonzola
If a traditional salad sounds more appealing, go for something packed with seasonal fruit flavor, vegetables and nut crunch. Our crumbly, salty Gorgonzola cheese is complimented deliciously with arugula leaves, spinach, raspberries and crunchy walnuts. Add a simple vinaigrette dressing to create a flavor profile that brings out the best flavors and textures of a truly classic Italian blue cheese.
