Description
Zucchini pasta sauce brings summer’s garden essence into a creamy, light Italian-inspired dish. Silky ribbons of fresh zucchini blend seamlessly with herbs, creating a delightful meal you’ll savor with pure Mediterranean comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) zucchini, diced
- 8 ounces (226 grams) uncooked fettuccine pasta
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) freshly grated parmesan cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 dash Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Liquids and Fats:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly tender, maintaining a slight resistance at the core. Discreetly set aside a small measure of starchy liquid before draining.
- Activate a spacious skillet over medium-high thermal intensity. Introduce olive oil and a dollop of butter, allowing them to shimmer. Incorporate finely chopped onions, sautéing until translucent and aromatic, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce diced zucchini, minced garlic, and herbaceous Italian seasoning into the skillet. Gently manipulate the ingredients, ensuring even heat distribution. Allow the vegetables to soften marginally while preserving their structural integrity, roughly 4-5 minutes.
- Cascade the remaining butter, pour in fragrant broth, and squeeze fresh citrus juice. Allow the mixture to gently simmer, facilitating flavor integration and creating a harmonious liquid base.
- Incorporate freshly grated parmesan, immediately folding the drained pasta into the vibrant sauce. Should the consistency appear overly dense, strategically introduce reserved pasta water to achieve a luxurious, silky texture. Calibrate seasoning with salt and pepper according to personal preference.
- Transfer the steaming pasta to serving vessels, presenting a vibrant, zucchini-infused culinary creation ready for immediate consumption.
Notes
- Enhance zucchini’s texture by salting and draining it for 10-15 minutes before cooking to remove excess moisture, preventing a watery sauce.
- For a protein boost, incorporate grilled chicken, shrimp, or crispy pancetta to transform this into a more substantial meal.
- Make the dish gluten-free by substituting regular pasta with zucchini noodles or alternative grain pasta like quinoa or chickpea varieties.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg