Around the world, millions of people live alone and every day find themselves organising shopping and meals for just one person, with different needs from those of a family household.
So let’s look at the main food-shopping needs of people who live alone, why Pinsa is a particularly suitable solution and a few simple, tasty ideas to bring it to the table whenever you fancy a quick but appealing meal.
What changes in the kitchen when you live alone
You probably know this feeling well: between work, the gym, errands, friends and everything else, the day flies by. When it’s time to think about dinner, the desire to spend an hour between the supermarket and the stove is close to zero.
Here’s what you need.
- Wasting as little time as possible
Less time shopping, by choosing ingredients that aren’t likely to end up in the bin, and less time in the kitchen, with recipes that come together in a few minutes without requiring complicated preparation. - A healthy, balanced diet
When time is short, the temptation is to eat whatever’s around. Today, though, there’s a growing awareness of the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. If you play sport, go to the gym or simply want to feel good every day, you know that what you put on the table makes a difference: eating light and balanced means having more energy, recovering better and tackling the day with an extra gear. - Flavour in simplicity
Living alone doesn’t mean settling for a sad or thrown-together dinner. The goal is different: finding flavour in simplicity, meaning preparing something good, with few ingredients and in little time, so you can dedicate the rest of the day to other things.
Organise your kitchen with a few extra allies
When time is short, what makes the difference is the ingredients you already have at home. A well-organised pantry lets you improvise a dinner in a few minutes, without having to rush to the supermarket or rely on delivery.
You don’t need to fill the pantry with ready-made products. A few versatile, long-lasting foods are enough: tuna, tinned pulses, peeled tomatoes, olives, capers, dried fruit and nuts, and a selection of spices and herbs. In the fridge, meanwhile, there’s room for mozzarella, ricotta, grilled vegetables, quality cold cuts and a few seasonal vegetables, to use in several recipes throughout the week.
Having these ingredients always on hand means being able to prepare something different every time without complicating your life. And that’s where another very practical solution comes in: a base that keeps well, is ready in a few minutes and lends itself to being enhanced with whatever you already have at home.
Why Pinsa is perfect if you live alone
If there’s one food that really meets the needs of people living alone, it’s Pinsa.
- It’s ready in a few minutes;
- It’s light and fragrant;
- It lets you create a different recipe every time;
- It doesn’t require any particular cooking skills.
In practice, all you need to do is open the fridge, choose the ingredients you have available and **dinner is ready in five minutes.**
Its versatility is the biggest advantage. You can prepare **simple recipes with few ingredients or experiment with more refined pairings**. You can choose light toppings for a balanced dinner, treat yourself to something more indulgent at the weekend, or even turn it into a dessert with cream, fresh fruit or chocolate spread. If you like variety, you can also **divide the same Pinsa into several sections and try different toppings**, so you can taste several combinations in a single dinner.
There’s also a practical aspect worth considering: **the size**. The classic Pinsa is perfect for many people living alone, especially if you have a hearty appetite or want to share it. If instead you prefer smaller portions or follow a particularly controlled diet, you can go for smaller formats. Di Marco, for example, also offers the Snack versions, available both chilled and at room temperature, designed specifically for those who want a **smaller portion without giving up Pinsa’s distinctive characteristics.**
Only got ten minutes? Here’s how to top it
You’ve decided it’s Pinsa for dinner tonight and, of course, **we agree with you**. Now comes the question: **what do you put on top?** You’re heading out soon, you’ve got a film to watch or a workout to do, and you certainly don’t feel like spending half an hour in the kitchen.
So here are a few simple, quick and tasty ideas, perfect for anyone living alone who wants to get a ready dinner on the table in just a few minutes.
- Margherita
Mozzarella, tomato passata, fresh basil and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. **Simple, quick and always a sure thing.** - Tuna, cherry tomatoes and olives
A tin of tuna, a few cherry tomatoes and a few olives: a handful of ingredients many people already have at home, and that always work well together. **Just watch out for the oil from the tuna,** which needs to be drained well, or **the water if you’ve gone for tuna in brine,** to keep it even lighter. - Pesto, stracciatella and cherry tomatoes
A fresh, flavourful recipe, ideal especially in the warmer months and ready in just a few minutes. - Grilled vegetables and scamorza
If you have some **vegetables already cooked in the fridge**, this is one of the best ways to turn them into a complete, tasty dinner. Jarred ones work well too, like strips of peppers or aubergines. - Speck, gorgonzola and walnuts
When you fancy something richer, **just three ingredients** are enough for a really appealing result.
