Weekly Meal Plan #16: Go Italian!

Inspired by this last months Italy themed issue of Waitrose Food magazine, and the Italian, five course lunch I threw last month, this week for my my Weekly Meal Plan we’re going Italian with five, easy, Italian (or Italian-inspired) weeknight dishes so you don’t have to worry about what you’re going to get on the table next week. We have pasta dishes and seafood, lots of seasonal veggies and dishes that are suitable for lovely summer, or a bit more challenging heatwave weather – enjoy!

Monday: Penne with Walnut & Aubergine Pesto

I love this really unique, Meat Free Monday-friendly pasta dish for late summer. The roasted aubergine done with butter rather than just oil makes for a stupidly unctuous sauce with lots of seasonal basil and tomatoes (I want to make this with heirlooms!) and while I do loads with walnuts because our house in France has a walnut tree, so many different nuts, from pine nuts to almonds would work here too!

Tuesday: Sardine and Pea Shoot Bruschetta

This light fish supper is perfect if you’re trying to cling onto the end of summer, as while the harvest has not really been that great this year, it is still tomato glut season where you can make stunning bruschettas with perfect, flavourful tomatoes – try to get them from anywhere but the supermarket for the best flavour.

Wednesday: Mediterranean Roast Chicken

This is our family’s favourite way of roasting chicken thighs, and is a really simple, really delicious (and quite quick) way of doing a weeknight roast. I also love making this to use up bits of relevant veggies that are hanging around at the bottom of the fridge and in the vegetable drawer at the end of the week.

Thursday: Panzanella Salad

A lighter option for a warmer autumn evening, yet another summer situation that you should still make in September because tomatoes are still great. I love Panzanella salads that use up leftover bits of bread; they can also be bulked out with beans, roasted red peppers and cucumber.

Friday: 15-Minute Broken Pasta with Lemony Crab & Courgette

A little treat for the end of the week, best served with a nice bottle of white wine and a dessert you’ve not had to make yourself (note: Pots & Co. are reduced in Waitrose at the moment, and you get a free lovely ramekin to boot – I love their Salted Caramel & Chocolate ganache ones!) – make the most of the last courgettes, and some beautiful fresh crab.

A few more Italian treats to make over the weekend: in the cocktail department why not make an Italian 75, snack on some Easy Bruschetta Salsa, a No-knead Rosemary & Black Olive Loaf, Easy Lunchtime Peas on Toast, or some White Peach, Mozzarella and Pea Shoot Bruschetta? Then, for dessert why not try my Roasted Nectarines with Amaretto or my Summer Berry, Chocolate & Amaretti Cheesecake Cups?

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