15 pasta recipes, perfect for summer

Greek shrimp and feta pasta salad Give your everyday pasta salad recipe a boost — and a bit of protein — with a twist on the traditional Greek salad. This recipe from AP Food Editor J.M. Hirsch calls for shrimp, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese and fresh herbs. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

This March 7, 2016 photo shows pasta with speedy no-cook avocado sauce and fresh cilantro, in Concord, N.H. Avocado stands in for the cream in this easy blender sauce that is both healthy and decadent. (AP Photo/J.M. Hirsch)

No-cook avocado pasta sauce During the hot months of summer, there’s no need to have the stove or oven on longer than absolutely necessary. The creamy sauce for this pasta recipe from AP Food Editor J.M. Hirsch is a no-cook avocado sauce, with Parmesan cheese, garlic and scallion. (AP Photo/J.M. Hirsch)

AP Photo/J.M. Hirsch

This June 15, 2015 photo shows penne pasta with tomatoes, zucchini and creme fraiche in Concord, N.H., a weeknight-friendly meal that is big on flavor, but not on labor. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Penne with tomatoes, zucchini and creme fraiche Take full advantage of summer’s flavor-filled bounty. Tomatoes, zucchini and fresh basil brighten penne in this summer pasta recipe. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

This July 27, 2015, photo, shows fresh tomato sauce with pasta in Concord, N.H. The beauty of this recipe is you can cook the tomatoes for as little or as long as you want, and youll still have a lovely, clean sauce. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Fresh tomato sauce with pasta If your garden is overflowing with tomatoes, a fresh sauce could be the answer to your harvest woes. Fresh basil, garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes enhance the sweet flavor of the ripe tomatoes in this sauce recipe. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

This May 2, 2011 photo shows angel hair pasta with crabmeat, jalapeno and mint in Concord, N.H. Chef Jonathan Waxman, of the New York restaurant Barbuto, says freshly cooked crab is essential for this recipe. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Angel hair pasta with crabmeat, jalapeño and mint It may seem like an unusual combination, but crabmeat, jalapeño and mint work wonders in this angel hair pasta recipe. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

This Sept. 8, 2011 photo shows autumn roasted tomato and sausage pasta in Concord, N.H. This easy pasta is topped with roasted tomatoes, green peppers, garlic and sausage. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Roasted tomato and sausage pasta Bring out the natural sweetness of summer’s tomatoes by roasting them. This recipe mixes roasted tomatoes with onion, Italian chicken sausage, green peppers and garlic. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

**FOR USE WITH AP LIFESTYLES** This Sunday, June 1, 2008 photo shows a bowl of Orzo with Chickpeas. This simple dish is a Mediterranean take on pasta salad, blending rice-like orzo pasta with chickpeas and goat cheese. It can be served warm or at room temperature. (AP Photo/Larry Crowe)

Orzo with chickpeas and goat cheese This simple dish is a Mediterranean take on pasta salad, where chickpeas and crumbled goat cheese are mixed with orzo — a rice-shaped pasta. (AP Photo/Larry Crowe)

AP Photo/Larry Crowe

This image taken on May 14, 2012 in Concord, N.H. shows a roasted beet tortellini salad with fresh blueberries and soft goat cheese. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Roasted beet tortellini salad Beets and blueberries add a pop of color to this antioxidant-packed summer pasta salad. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

Steak and cheese pasta Are you a fan of the classic steak and cheese sandwich? Well now, you can enjoy it in a bowl. This easy pasta recipe, which calls for flank steak, peppers, onions and spaghetti, takes only 25 minutes from start to finish. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

This July 20, 2015 photo shows mushroom miso pasta in Concord, N.H. This recipe tastes far richer, creamier and more sinful than it actually is. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Mushroom-miso pasta Miso paste, nutritional yeast and earthy mushrooms make this pasta recipe a bowl full of umami. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

Spanakopita pasta Thaw out a pack of frozen spinach, throw in some ricotta cheese, feta and oregano, and you have a Greek spin on an easy pasta dish. (AP Photo/MatthewMead)

AP Photo/MatthewMead

Florentine pasta salad This Italian-inspired pasta salad doesn’t call for bottled dressing. It mixes spinach, Parmesan, tomatoes and fresh basil. Whole-milk ricotta cheese and a balsamic glaze coat it in a creamy sauce. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

This July 29, 2013 photo shows prosciutto, cantaloupe, and orecchiette salad in Concord, N.H. A pasta salad should be easy. It should be a just-throw-the-ingredients-in-a-bowl kind of summer food that doesn't require too much messing around. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Prosciutto, cantaloupe and orecchiette salad Melon and prosciutto is a popular Italian appetizer … and when mixed with orecchiette, it makes for a tasty pasta salad. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead

This Feb. 1, 2016 photo shows pasta salad with salmon and creamy cilantro dressing in Concord, N.H. This delicious spring dish is easy to assemble and travels well, making it perfect for packed lunches and picnics. It also can be prepped in advance by poaching the fish and cooking the pasta the night before. (AP Photos/Matthew Mead)

Pasta salad with salmon and creamy cilantro dressing Have a potluck or a cookout to attend? This pasta salad with salmon and creamy cilantro dressing is fresh-tasting and incredibly portable. (AP Photos/Matthew Mead)

AP Photos/Matthew Mead

Fast and fresh summer pasta This summer pasta salad recipe is practically effortless. It calls for chopped tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh herbs and penne pasta. When the pasta is tossed with fresh goat cheese, it makes a creamy dressing to bind it all together. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

AP Photo/Matthew Mead