Amp Up Your Next Pasta Dish By Adding Fruit (Trust Us On This One)

When it comes to Italian cuisine, pasta is a go-to choice for food lovers. The simple texture and taste allow it to seamlessly soak up the flavors of other ingredients like spinach, meat, and pesto. It's an incredibly versatile dish, as there are countless ways to prepare it. 

If you're opting for an easy and healthy recipe, try tossing it with some vegetables, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. Of course, there are more elaborate takes on this staple, like cooking a classic carbonara or hearty bolognese. In the world of pasta, there's something for everyone — even for those who enjoy a sweeter, juicier kick. 

The one ingredient you may not have thought about incorporating into your pasta dish is your favorite fruit, and we're not just talking about tomatoes. Supplementing your spaghetti with apples, pears, or oranges may seem like an odd choice, but there are some delicious recipes that will change the way you think about this seemingly strange combination.

Nadia Munno, known as The Pasta Queen, has inspired her 2.6 million TikTok followers to incorporate unconventional ingredients into various pasta dishes. The social media chef spoke to Tasting Table about the underdog of Italian cuisine. Munno said, "Fruit — the use of fruits in pasta. For example, one of my most popular recipes, the pear and gorgonzola pasta — it's delicious. And we have figs and bacon — that's a separate dish." She also suggests the addition of green apples as they add an acidic element that pairs well with sausage for a delectable pasta.

Munno demonstrates how to make this recipe via YouTube. She juliennes a yellow apple, using half of the fruit for the sauce and the other half for garnish. The Pasta Queen adds ingredients like onions, tomato purée, and white wine to achieve an ideal consistency and flavor. Finally, the silky sauce is poured over some al dente rigatoni. Top it off with parmesan cheese, and voilà, you have yourself a mouthwatering meal.

Of course, there are plenty of fruits you can integrate into your noodles. You could try the creamy and flavorful tagliatelle with torn prosciutto and the juice and zest of an orange. After sautéing prosciutto, combine pasta water, orange juice, zest, and whipping cream. Then, mix the pasta with the sauce and add some finely grated parmesan cheese. The final touch is sprinkling orange zest over the noodles. 

If you're not quite ready to step into full-force fruit territory, you can always stick to a classic fruit like lemon to shake things up. In an episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show," the host makes pasta al limone with Munno. It's a quick and easy dish that uses olive oil, garlic, butter, lemon zest, and heavy cream. And as Barrymore and Munno emphasize, don't forget to include pasta water. Whether your preference is apples, oranges, pears, or lemons, don't hesitate to experiment with fruit the next time you cook pasta.