This zucchini pasta recipe is a recent summer season meal that you may make in half-hour! Sautéed grated zucchini creates the flippantly creamy, flavorful sauce.
This zucchini pasta recipe is the easiest way to make use of up an abundance of summer season zucchini. Sorry, zucchini muffins and zucchini bread—this pasta requires a lot zucchini that no different recipe can compete.
It’s precisely the kind of shiny, recent dish I crave within the summertime (and massive win: our 3-year-old loves it too!). To make it, I grate the zucchini. Then, I sauté it till it cooks down into a lightweight, silky sauce for the pasta, with garlic, lemon, and Parmesan cheese for depth of taste. Simply earlier than serving, I garnish it with numerous recent basil and/or mint. For those who ask me, a summer season pasta like this one is at all times higher with recent herbs on high. 😊
This zucchini pasta is prepared in simply half-hour. Fast, simple, and scrumptious, it’s the proper dinner for a lazy summer season night time.
The right way to Make This Zucchini Pasta
The recipe begins with easy, recent substances:
The Substances
- Zucchini, in fact! You’ll want 2 kilos, about 4 medium zucchini. A mixture of zucchini and yellow summer season squash would work properly too.
- Spaghetti or bucatini – I like this zucchini sauce finest with lengthy pasta shapes. Spaghetti and bucatini are each glorious picks!
- Additional-virgin olive oil – For sautéing the zucchini. It helps the squash cook dinner down right into a wealthy, flavorful sauce.
- Shallots and garlic – They add savory depth of taste.
- Crushed crimson pepper flakes – For warmth. Be happy to skip them if you happen to’re delicate to spice.
- Pecorino or Parmesan cheese – It provides richness and umami taste. I personally suggest the pecorino (I really like its funk right here!). However if you happen to preserve Parmesan available, you need to use it as an alternative. It’s nice on this recipe too.
- Lemon juice and zest – For shiny, tangy taste.
- Recent basil and/or mint – These aromatic herbs make this pasta style recent and summery. Use each, or select your favourite.
- And salt and pepper – To make all of the flavors pop!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
The Technique
I’ve to credit score Smitten Kitchen as my inspiration for this zucchini pasta recipe. I noticed Deb use sautéed grated zucchini to create a pasta sauce a couple of years in the past. I’ve needed to develop my very own twist on it ever since.
I’m so glad I lastly did, as a result of this zucchini pasta sauce is critically scrumptious! Right here’s how I make it:
- Begin by grating the zucchini. I do that on the big holes of a field grater, however you might use a meals processor if you happen to want. Switch the grated zucchini to a clear kitchen towel or paper towel, and wring out the surplus moisture.
- Then, sauté the zucchini with the shallots and crimson pepper flakes for 15 to twenty minutes, or till the combination is thick and jammy. Stir within the garlic.
- In the meantime, cook dinner the pasta in a big pot of salted boiling water in accordance with the package deal’s directions. As an alternative of draining the pasta, scoop it immediately into the skillet with the zucchini. Toss to mix the zucchini with the pasta.
- Make a flippantly creamy sauce by including reserved pasta water and the cheese to the skillet. Prepare dinner, tossing, for two to three minutes, or till the pasta is effectively coated.
- Lastly, season to style. Add the lemon juice and zest and extra salt, pepper, and cheese, as desired.
Serve with recent basil leaves, mint, extra lemon zest, and extra cheese on high!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
What to Serve with Zucchini Pasta
This zucchini pasta recipe is a beautiful summer season dinner. Take pleasure in it alongside focaccia or garlic bread, or pair it with a salad. Any of those recipes can be nice:
Storage
Retailer leftover pasta in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat it within the microwave or on the stovetop. If wanted, add a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
Extra Favourite Zucchini Recipes
Received extra zucchini to make use of up? Attempt considered one of these simple zucchini recipes subsequent:
Zucchini Pasta
Serves 4
This zucchini pasta recipe is a recent summer season dinner that you may make in half-hour! You will begin by grating the zucchini. Then, you may sauté it till it cooks down right into a flippantly creamy sauce for the pasta. Recent herbs, lemon, garlic, and crimson pepper flakes add shiny, savory taste to this easy, scrumptious dish.
Stop your display from going darkish
-
Grate the zucchini on the big holes of a field grater. Switch to a clear kitchen towel and wring out the surplus moisture.
-
Warmth the olive oil in a big skillet or Dutch oven over medium warmth. Add the shallot, zucchini, salt, crimson pepper flakes, and several other grinds of pepper. Prepare dinner, stirring sometimes, for 15 to twenty minutes, or till the combination is thick and jammy. Stir within the garlic.
-
In the meantime, cook dinner the pasta. Convey a big pot of salted water to a boil. Put together the pasta in accordance with the package deal directions, cooking till al dente.
-
Scoop the cooked pasta immediately from the cooking water into the pan with the zucchini, reserving the pasta cooking water. Add ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and the cheese to the pan with zucchini. Prepare dinner, stirring, for two to three minutes, or till a flippantly creamy sauce coats the pasta, including extra pasta water as wanted.
-
Stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice and the lemon zest. Season to style, including extra lemon juice if desired.
-
Serve topped with the herbs, the reserved lemon zest, and extra cheese.
