Five Quick & Healthy Italian Meals

Using Carluccio's Italian ingredients, you can knock up simple and delicious meals in minutes 

Life is busy, but that’s no excuse to compromise on flavour or quality. Antonio Carluccio's philosophy was always about minimum fuss, maximum flavour, and that principle is at the heart of the Italian kitchen. By keeping a few high-quality staple ingredients from the Carluccio's shop on hand, you can whip up delicious, healthy meals in minutes.

Here are five quick and healthy Italian meals, all elevated by authentic ingredients available online now.

1. Spicy 'Nduja & Orecchiette Dinner (Ready in 15 mins)

• The Carluccio's Heroes: 'Nduja – Spicy Salami Spread and Orecchiette di Puglia Pasta.

This meal is a fiery, flavour-packed shortcut to dinner. The 'Nduja – Spicy Salami Spread melts instantly into a sauce, coating the 'little ears' pasta perfectly.

• How to Make it Quick & Healthy:

  1. Boil the Orecchiette di Puglia Pasta until al dente.

  2. While the pasta cooks, gently warm a tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a pan and add a generous dollop of the 'Nduja. Stir until it dissolves into a rich, fragrant sauce.

  3. Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the cooking water, and toss it immediately with the 'Nduja sauce. Use the pasta water to loosen if needed.

  4. Stir through a handful of fresh spinach or rocket leaves for a healthy, fresh bite.

2.  Quick  Puttanesca with Fusilli (Ready in 10 mins)

• The Carluccio's Heroes: Putanesca Sauce and Bucatini Pasta.

A simple, vibrant meal from the south of Italy. Carluccio's ready-made sauce is already packed with the bold, savoury flavours of tomatoes, olives, and capers.

• How to Make it Quick & Healthy:

  1. Boil the Bucatini until al dente.

  2. Gently heat the jar of Carluccio's Putanesca Sauce in a saucepan.
     

  3. Toss the drained pasta into the heated sauce and serve with a final drizzle of Carluccio's Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

3. 🐟 Tuna, Artichoke & Olive Antipasti Salad (Ready in 5 mins)

• The Carluccio's Heroes: Grilled Artichokes in Oil and Pitted Peranzana Olives.

This is a light, Mediterranean-style salad, perfect for lunch or a warm evening meal. It’s high in protein and healthy fats, requiring zero cooking.

• How to Make it Quick & Healthy:

  1. Combine a tin of drained tuna with mixed salad leaves, chopped celery, and cucumber.

  2. Fold in the chopped Grilled Artichokes in Oil and a scattering of Pitted Peranzana Olives.

  3. Dress simply using the oil from the artichoke jar, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

4. Speedy Porcini Cream with Penne (Ready in 15 mins)

• The Carluccio's Heroes: Porcini Cream and Penne Pasta.

Porcini mushrooms deliver deep, earthy, gourmet flavour instantly, meaning you don't need hours to make a luxurious cream sauce.

• How to Make it Quick & Healthy:

  1. Boil the Penne Pasta until al dente.

  2. In a pan, gently warm 3-4 generous spoons of Carluccio's Porcini Cream with a small amount of the pasta cooking water to create a smooth, velvety sauce.

  3. Drain the pasta and toss it immediately into the Porcini Cream mixture.

  4. Serve immediately with a grind of black pepper. For a vegetarian option, stir through some lightly sautéed fresh mushrooms.

5. Classic Pesto & Trofie Pasta (Ready in 10 mins)

• The Carluccio's Heroes: Ligurian Pesto and Trofie Pasta.

Pesto pasta is the ultimate Italian fast food. By using a quality Classic Basil Pesto you get a simple, flavourful meal in under 10 minutes.

• How to Make it Quick & Healthy:

  1. Cook your Penne Rigate Pasta until al dente.
     

  2. Drain the pasta, reserving a little water, and toss it immediately with the pesto mixture. You could add cooked green beans too for additional nutrition, taste and texture.

  3. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water to make the sauce cling beautifully to the penne.

Buon Appetito! You are now armed with five delicious, quick, and authentic Italian meals.