Eight soul-warming winter pasta bowls to try this season

News24

27-05-2025

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The winter season calls for cosy, comforting bowls, and pasta fits perfectly offering versatile warmth to your dinner table.
These are eight recipes, with creative twists on classic pasta dishes.
From fishy meatballs to spicy vegetarian arrabbiata, each dish promises home-style comfort.
Winter means soft jerseys and comforting bowls of something warm, thick, and hearty that practically hugs you from the inside out.
When it comes to comforting dishes, pasta is the undisputed champion.
The versatile starch is a year-round sensation, showcasing its incredible ability to adapt to cooler weather, conquer weeknight dinner dilemmas, and even inspire a little culinary flair.
From slow-simmered ragus bubbling for hours to the vibrant zest of garlic and olive oil, these are eight pasta dishes that will keep you well-fed and cosy.
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Pilchard meatball pasta
Often forgotten in the corners of the pantry, canned tomatoey pilchards get the star treatment in this recipe. They're transformed into tender, omega-rich meatballs simmered in a bright tomato sauce and tossed with spaghetti.
Penne puttanesca
Puttanesca is a dish born from rebellion and pantry raids. This punchy classic doesn't ask for much but delivers in spades. Anchovies, garlic, olives, and capers create a bold, briny base mellowed by sweet tomato.
Pork neck carbonara
This recipe is traditional Italian Carbonara but made in Mzansi. This proudly South African twist swaps guanciale for a smoky, braaied pork chop —because sometimes breaking the rules makes the dish. Velvety egg sauce meets fire-charred pork on fresh pasta, resulting in an indulgent, soulful, bowl.
Tomato meatballs with risoni
Busy? Feeding four in under 30 minutes? This one-pot wonder's got you. Juicy beef meatballs cooked in a tomato-rich broth, with tiny risoni (aka orzo) soaking up every drop. Toss in Parmesan and basil, and watch everyone act like you cooked all day.
Technically a soup, but emotionally a blanket. This gnocchi soup bowl delivers soft potato pillows in a herb-rich chicken broth that practically hums with comfort. It's perfect for sniffly days, long nights, or when you need to feel like someone's cooking just for you.
Garam masala, prawn, pea and Gruberg risotto
It's technically not pasta, but risotto deserves a seat at the table. This recipe is an east-meets-west hug in a bowl where plump prawns, sweet peas, and the earthy warmth of garam masala are all stirred into creamy arborio rice and finished with nutty Gruberg.
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Lasagne potjie
Layered, lazy, and lit by firelight. This dish turns the Italian Sunday staple into a proudly South African gathering moment. Cooked low and slow in a potjie over open flames, with a cheeky hit of Six Gun seasoning, it's lasagne reimagined as a social event.
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Rich, spicy linguine arrabbiata
Simple, spicy, and impossible to forget, Arrabbiata may mean 'angry,' but this dish is pure joy. Just tomatoes, garlic, chilli, and olive oil are four ingredients that can change your evening. Add Parmesan and adjust the heat to taste (but don't be shy — winter wants fire).