Home

Pasta all'ortolana

17/11/2023

Pasta all’ortolana is a delicate, colorful, and healthy dish, packed with seasonal vegetables that provide freshness and flavor. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (penne, rigatoni, or another preferred shape)
  • 1 zucchini
  • 1 small eggplant
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 ripe tomatoes or canned peeled tomatoes
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Fresh basil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start by washing and cutting the zucchini, eggplant, and bell pepper into cubes, the carrot into thin slices, and the onion into small pieces. Peel the garlic.

  2. In a large pan, heat a stream of extra virgin olive oil and sauté the garlic and onion until golden brown.

  3. Add the eggplant and carrots, allowing them to cook for a few minutes, then incorporate the zucchini and bell peppers. Cook the vegetables until they are tender but still crisp.

  4. In the meantime, if you’re using fresh tomatoes, cut them into cubes, otherwise drain the canned peeled tomatoes. Add the tomatoes to the vegetables in the pan.

  5. Season with salt and pepper and let cook over medium-low heat for about 10-15 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly.

  6. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water following the package’s cooking time instructions to obtain al dente pasta.

  7. Drain the pasta and pour it into the pan with the vegetable sauce. Mix well to combine the ingredients.

  8. Serve the pasta all’ortolana hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves and, if desired, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese.

Curiosity

Pasta all’ortolana gets its name from the vegetables that are the heart of the recipe. It’s a dish that adapts well to various seasons: you can use summer vegetables like eggplants and zucchini or winter vegetables like pumpkin and cauliflower. This dish is also a great way to use up the vegetables you have in the fridge, reducing waste. Additionally, it’s easily customizable according to personal taste or dietary needs.