30 Easy Italian Recipes - The Plant Based School (2024)

From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the bustling streets of Rome, Italian cuisine is as diverse as the regions that inspire it.

You’ll find it here whether you’re craving the comforting embrace of a steaming bowl of pasta, earthy soups with lentils or nutty chickpeas, or the indulgent sweetness of a homemade apple cake.

From appetizers to desserts, these easy–to–follow recipes will help you create authentic Italian dishes that will transport you to the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean with every bite. Buon appetito!

1. Spaghetti aglio e olio

We start this list with 15-minute pasta and an affordable meal famous worldwide.

Use spaghetti, plenty of extra virgin olive oil, fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, and a sprinkle of finely chopped parsley on top.

2. Italian bean stew

This rich, tomato–packed Italian bean stew is a simple and flavorful recipe that can be made inone potin half an hour.

Serve it as a weeknight dinner withrice, couscous, polenta, or a slice of crusty bread.

3. Easy tomato risotto

This recipe isso easy to put together with simplepantry staplesyou probably already have at home.

Tomato risotto will beloved by adults and kids alike. In justabout 30 minutes, you’ll have a delicious Italian dinner on the table.

4. Stuffed zucchini

These stuffed zucchini have adelicious meat-free fillingwith ricotta, herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes, and they are baked until tender-crisp and golden.

This protein-rich vegetarian dish is excellent foreveryday Italian dinners or special occasions.

5. Carciofi alla Romana (braised artichokes)

Carciofi alla Romanais an Italian artichoke recipe of braised artichokes simmered in a pot with water, olive oil, and herbs like mint and parsley.

They are primarily served in central Italy and around Rome, but the recipe isnow famous worldwide.

6. Panzanella salad with bread

Panzanellais anItalian bread saladoriginating in the centenary peasant traditions of central Italy, especially in theUmbria, Tuscany, Lazio, and Marche regions.

It’s a naturally vegan, zero-waste recipe and agreat way to reuse stale bread.

7. Spaghetti Pomodoro

“Pomodoro” in Italian meanstomato.So when Italians say pasta al Pomodoro, they mean pasta with tomato.

In 20 minutes and with simple ingredients, you can prepare an authentic Italian pasta dish that will leave everyonebegging for more.

8. Ricotta pasta

You’ll love our lemon ricotta pasta recipe because it has a creamy and light texture and a refreshing lemony flavor, and you can add your favorite veggie.

We make it with spinach here, but the recipe is delicious with most vegetables, includingfrozenpeas,roasted broccoli,roasted cauliflower,sautéed mushrooms, and more.

9. Italian salsa verde dressing

This sauce, sometimes known as bagnet verd or bagnet Piemontese, was invented in the 19th century in thenorthern Italian region ofPiedmontand quickly spread down through the Italian peninsula.

It’s perfect with fresh vegetables, potatoes, salads, and bruschetta.

10. Potato gnocchi

If you make gnocchi with white potatoes, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin, the result is a family-friendly dinner that is absolutely restaurant–worthy.

We’ll show youhow to make gnocchiwiththree simple ingredientsand shape them with a fork. Our recipe is theoriginal Italianone without eggs.

11. Lentil pasta

Lentils are the oldest legumesdomesticated by humans and are anutrition powerhouse.

Combined with pasta, they make atasty and nutritious meal, especially if cooked together in the same pot, as in this recipe.

13. Tomato or eggplant bruschetta

Bruschetta, pronounced “bruˈsketta,” is a humble yet incredibly delicious meal made fromthick grilled slices of stale breadrubbed with garlic.

Top it with good-quality olive oil, salt, tomatoes, or roasted eggplant.

14. Eggplant Pizza

From this eggplant pizza recipe, you can expect afamiliar, cozy flavor similar toItalian eggplant parmigiana, sometimes known as eggplant parmesan.

The roasted eggplant is not crunchy like baked pizza dough, but it’s delicious and tender, making it an excellent dish for sharing.

15. Stuffed bell pepper

Stuffed bell peppersare a popular dish inmost Mediterranean countries, from Italy to Turkey, Spain to North Africa’s coasts.

Our pepper recipe is strongly inspired by Mediterranean, Levantine, and Middle Eastern flavors, especially those of our lentil mujaddara.

16. Sauteed eggplant

This sauteed eggplant recipe is much easier than caponata as it’s done in 20 minutes on a pan.

Theeggplant dice soak in the tomato juicesandgarlic aroma, becoming incredibly flavorful, juicy, and tender.

17. Chickpea farinata

Chickpea farinata or soccais an easy recipe that involves mixingchickpea flour and extra virginolive oil and baking it in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Serve it as an appetizer with pesto, olive tapenade, and roasted vegetables for an authentic Italian antipasto.

18. Pesto

Make it with basil, zucchini, or parsley; this green pesto is a fantastic pasta sauce, sandwich spread, and drizzle on pizza.

Make it in 5 minutes with simple ingredients, and you’ll have a quick and easy meal.

19. Pasta e fa*gioli

Pasta e fa*giolimakes a comforting and cozy one-pot family dinner.

You can make it with simple and affordable ingredients, yetit tastes fantastic and is incrediblywarming and nourishing.

20. Easy white sauce

White sauce,also known asbéchamel sauce, is a versatile sauce that can be used in many recipes, from pasta bakes to savory crepes, from lasagne to oven-baked veggies.

It’s a simple recipe withfour ingredientsin its basic form, and it’sready in 10 minutes.

21. Lemon pasta with spinach

Combining simple ingredients, such as spaghetti, lemon juice, zest, olive oil, garlic, and chili flakes, creates a simple but incredibly delicious meal.

Have a bite, andyou’ll be transported to Sorrentoand the Amalfi Coast, where lemons and pasta are staple ingredients.

22. Tomato salad

Tomato and onion saladis refreshing, easy to put together, and perfect for cooling down duringscorching summer months.

Serve it withcrusty breadtosoak up all the flavorful tomato juicesfor a simple light lunch or as a side dish.

23. Pasta Puttanesca

Originally from Naples, pasta puttanesca oraulive e chiappariellein Neapolitan (olives and capers in English) is now popular throughout Italy and worldwide.

It’s a 20–minute meal withbeautiful colors and, most importantly, itswonderfully rich and yet balanced taste.

24. Lentil Vegetable soup

This easy lentil soup iswholesome,hearty, and with a beautifulherby flavor.

The lentils make the dish nutritious and fulfilling, withtexture,plant–based protein,iron, and heart andgut-healthy fiber.

25. Marinara sauce

In about 15 minutes, you’ll have a rich and tasty homemade tomato sauce with any pasta and vegetarian meatballs.

It’s theultimate last-minute dinner recipeand the best ace up your sleeve when you are short on time but still want to cook a delicious vegetarian meal.

26. Mushroom ragu

With thismushroom ragu, we wanted to make aquick and easy saucewithout simmering for a long time, like a traditional meat-based ragu.

The result is a recipe you can make with affordable ingredientssuch as mushroom, olive oil, onion, celery, carrot, rosemary, tomato paste, salt, and pepper.

27. Roasted zucchini

These oven–roasted zucchini are naturally vegan and made with breadcrumbs, garlic, olive oil, and herbs.

It is a delicious topping asit gives the zucchini a lot of flavor and gets allgolden, crisp, and crunchyas the breadcrumbs gratin in the oven.

28. Kale soup

Kale is a nutritious and versatile leafy greenthat can be used to make countless soups, stews, and curries inspired by world cuisines.

This easy kale soup recipeis inspired byTuscan white bean soupor ribollita and is prepared in one pot.

29. No knead focaccia bread

This recipe shows youhow to make the bestandeasiest focaccia breadwithout kneading, with just a bowl and a spoon, and inmost baking pans.

Focaccia is usually topped witholiveoil,coarsesalt, andfreshrosemary, but you can also make a version with cherry tomatoes, sage, and red onions.

30. Penne arrabbiata

Penne arrabbiata(angry pasta) is an Italian dish famous for itssimplicity,comforting taste, andspicy tomato sauce.

Although it’s spicier, arrabbiata sauce issimilar tomarinara sauce,spaghetti pomodoro, andpasta alla Norma. It goes well with most pasta shapes, the most traditional beingpenneandrigatoni arrabbiata.

Italian pantry ingredients

Before getting started with these Italian meals, we highly recommend checking your pantry for a couple of basic but essential ingredients. We use all of these ingredients for basically any of these Italian classic dishes:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Passata and crushed canned tomatoes
• Garlic cloves
• Dried or fresh herbs include basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, and thyme.
• Parmesan cheese or dairy-free alternative.

How to store these Italian meals

Make Ahead:These Italian meals are excellent for making ahead, as you can refrigerate most of them for several days (or freeze the soups and sauces for months).
Also, the warm meals taste better on the second and third days than when freshly made because the flavors have time to meld.

Refrigerator:Let the dishes cool completely at room temperature, then transfer them to an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat:you can reheat pasta, soups, and sauces in a pot on the stovetop for a few minutes or in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. Avoid reheating them multiple times.

Italian desserts

Pair your easy Italian dinner with a dessert “dolci” of your choice; they are inspired by Italian dessert traditions:

• Biscotti (flour, sugar, almonds, powdered sugar, lemon, almond milk, etc.)
• Apple cake (milk, vegetable oil, apples, vanilla extract, baking powder, etc.)
• Baked pears (cinnamon, walnuts, maple syrup, vanilla ice cream).
• Coffee mousse (whipped cream, espresso coffee, sugar).
• Egg–free custard (soy milk, vanilla, sugar, non-dairy milk, etc.)