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Pasta with Zucchini

17/11/2023

Pasta with zucchini is a simple and quick dish, perfect for a light summer meal. Here’s the classic Italian recipe with a touch of creativity.

Ingredients

  • 320 grams of pasta (penne, spaghetti, or your preferred shape)
  • 3-4 medium zucchinis
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese to taste
  • Fresh basil (optional)
  • Grated lemon zest (for a touch of freshness, optional)
  • Chili pepper (optional, if you like a spicy touch)

Preparation

  1. Wash the zucchini and slice them into rounds or julienne, depending on your preference.
  2. In a large pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil with the garlic cloves. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can remove the garlic as soon as it’s golden.
  3. Add the sliced zucchini and cook over medium-high heat until lightly golden. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the package.
  5. Drain the pasta while saving some of the cooking water and transfer it to the pan with the zucchini.
  6. Toss the pasta with the zucchini for a few minutes, adding some cooking water to make the sauce creamier.
  7. Serve the pasta hot with a sprinkle of Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and if you like, grated lemon zest or a pinch of chili pepper.

Curiosity

Zucchini is very versatile and lends itself to different variations of this dish. For example, you can enrich it with shrimp or speck for an extra touch of flavor. Alternatively, for a creamy version, you can add fresh ricotta or goat cheese towards the end of the zucchini cooking.