Thursday, July 29, 2010

Summer Zucchini Pasta

Last night I whipped up this super easy and not to mention quick recipe of Summer Zucchini Pasta from The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper.  I even got to use a few of my CSA goodies - cherry tomatoes, basil, and zucchini.  Seriously this took me ten minutes total, and I love the pops of tomato, the freshness of basil, and the heat from the red pepper flakes.  The best part is that is great warm, room temperature, or cold.

Summer Zucchini Pasta from The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper, serves 4 as a main dish:
-5 quarts salted water in a a 6-quart pot
-1 pound small zucchini (about 4 or 5)
-1 pound penne pasta
-4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and more to taste
-4 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
-2 cups grape tomatoes, halved; or 2 cups other fresh tomatoes, coarsely chopped
-1 to 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) feta cheese, crumbled
-1/3 tight-packed cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped

To begin, bring the salted water to a boil.  Meanwhile, cut squash in to the size of the penne, and chop the tomatoes, garlic, and basil.
Cook pasta for about 3 minutes, then add the zucchini.  Boil until the penne is tender but has a little bite.  Reserve one cup pasta water and then drain the pasta and zucchni in a colander.
Film the bottom of the pot with olive oil, and then add the pasta and zucchini back into the pot over low heat.  Add the garlic and pepper flakes, and gently saute until fragrant, about thirty seconds to one minute.
Remove the pot from the heat and add the tomatoes, feta, and basil and as much reserved pasta water as necessary to lightly coat the pasta.  Toss gently, taste for seasoning, and serve.
Enjoy!

3 comments:

  1. I just wanted to let you know that I love looking at your blog! Tony and I have been thinking about setting up a CSA with some city property that is behind our garage that they don't tend to. It's a mess right now though so it would probably be a while before we ever got to that point. We should talk soon!
    Lilli

    ReplyDelete
  2. Made this tonight (with a pound of grilled chicken thrown in) and it was delicious. Thank you! ~Bryant

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad you liked it Bryant. I think I will have to make it again this week too - it was great for lunch.

    ReplyDelete