Zucchini Parmesan Pasta with Burst Tomatoes

Zucchini Parmesan Pasta with Burst Tomatoes

This is a summer pasta worth making! It's jam packed with fresh zucchini (which I think we can all agree we have too much of this time of the year!) parmesan cheese, basil and burst cherry tomatoes. It comes together quickly and is chock full of fresh summer flavors. The trick to this creamy pasta is cooking the zucchini down into a buttery sauce. Trust me on this one! The result is a tasty, creamy sauce that would be great on a number of dishes--think poached cod, chicken, or grilled steak. I went the route of making this into a pasta sauce but the possibilities are endless and it's a great way to use up an overabundance of zucchini. I hope you all enjoy this simple summer pasta as much as my family does!

Zucchini Parmesan Pasta with Burst Tomatoes

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3-4 medium size zucchini, shredded (about 3 cups worth)
  • 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • fat pinch of salt and pepper
  • 1 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup fresh basil, minced
  • 1 pound pasta of choice (we love the chickpea noodle pasta for added protein!)

Preparation

  1. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini, garlic, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook until the zucchini is golden, and starting to caramelize, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Using the back of your spoon or a potato masher, mash down the zucchini until it becomes a chunky sauce, keep on low heat (you'll be adding pasta water to the sauce to make it more creamy in a bit!)
  2. Meanwhile bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to package directions and reserve one cup of the cooking liquid before draining your noodles.
  3. Add 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water to the zucchini, add the tomatoes and simmer for a few minutes until the tomatoes burst and the sauce has thickened. Add more reserved pasta water if needed. Stir in the cooked pasta and parmesan. Mix well. Serve with minced basil and additional salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Use this recipe as a guide and adjust measurements and ingredients as needed.

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