Pasta with Bread and Zucchini

Pasta with bread and zucchini is a simple but tasty dish, where stale bread becomes a crunchy element that pairs well with the softness of the zucchini.

Ingredients

• 320 g of short pasta (penne, butterflies, fusilli)
• 2 medium zucchini
• 100 g of stale bread
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Chili pepper (optional)
• A tuft of fresh basil or parsley
• Grated parmesan (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by cutting the stale bread into small cubes.
2. Wash the zucchini and cut them into rounds or half-moons, depending on your preference.
3. Heat some extra virgin olive oil in a pan and add the cubes of stale bread. Let them toast until they become golden and crunchy, then remove them from the pan and set them aside on some paper towels.
4. In the same pan, add a drizzle of oil and the peeled garlic cloves. Once the garlic is golden, remove it and add the zucchini.
5. Cook the zucchini until they are tender but still slightly crunchy. Season with salt and pepper, and if you like, a sprinkle of chili pepper.
6. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package.
7. Drain the pasta al dente and add it to the zucchini in the pan.
8. Add the crunchy bread cubes, a drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil, and the chopped fresh basil or parsley.
9. Mix all the ingredients well in the pan over high heat for a minute.
10. (Optional) Finish the dish with a sprinkle of grated parmesan.

Curiosity

This dish is a great example of recovery cooking, using stale bread instead of throwing it away, turning it into a crunchy addition to the pasta. In Italy, stale bread is often used to make tasty recipes, avoiding waste and stimulating creativity in the kitchen.