Whether cooking for the family or entertaining friends, pasta is an easy way to feed the masses

Pasta is versatile, healthy, tasty and easy to work with. It provides the base for hundreds of delicious recipes, whether drowned in creamy sauce or chopped up plain in a salad. When at a loss of time, and limited by imagination, we say reach for the pasta. Need inspiring beyond a regular spaghetti bolognese? Give these three easy options a go.

Pasta with rocket pesto

Rocket and walnut pesto is a great way to pep up any pasta dish and better still, can be made at home in an instant. Grab a bunch of fresh rocket leaves, about 100g of walnuts (toasted in the oven for four minutes prior), a splash of olive oil, salt and pepper, squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of sugar.

Throw them into a food processor and start to puree with a stick blender, drizzling in the oil until you get a nice consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning. Mix into cooked pasta and throw on roasted pine seed and raisins for a tasty dish for all.

Pasta bake

It may be a simple student pasta and tomato dish but it’s delicious, filling and cheap to boot. Stretch pasta a little bit further by oven baking it with a sauce - try tomato, tuna, mince, vegetables and don’t forget to top with the obligatory layer of melted cheese.

Warming pasta bakes can feed the whole family with a handful of ingredients and minimal effort. Full of flavour and super-simple, they’ll always have the little ones asking for seconds!

Think outside the box this summer by adding summer veggies and chopped leftover meat from the night before. This is a great ‘throw-it-in’ dish for those days when the heat has simply worn you down. Your pasta prayers have been answered.

Pasta and meatballs

This really easy beef meatball recipe with simple tomato sauce delivers big on flavour and is great for play dates, family meals or even a romantic meal for two. It really does cover all bases. If you like a smooth sauce just whizz in a blender – just give it chance to cool slightly before you serve.

The secret to getting uber-tender meatballs is bread, yep, you heard right, bread! Throw some bread in a food processor or blender and make your own breadcrumbs, which will hold the ingredients together. The secret to getting the best flavour from your meatballs is in the combination of meats – we’re talking about lean, ground beef (mixed with good quality sausages if you choose to). Pick the best meat, whip up the smoothest sauce and your choice of pasta to serve won’t come into question at all. The pasta world is now your oyster.