In this delectable culinary journey, we present a trio of tantalizing pasta dishes that showcase the vibrant flavors of summer. Each recipe embodies the essence of Italy's rich culinary heritage, capturing the freshness of seasonal ingredients and transforming them into unforgettable meals.
1. **Pasta with Zucchini and Zucchini Blossoms**: This dish celebrates the abundance of zucchini and zucchini blossoms, which are lightly sautéed to retain their crisp-tender texture. Tossed with al dente pasta, the zucchini and blossoms burst with vegetal sweetness, complemented by a savory sauce made from garlic, chili peppers, and fresh herbs.
2. **Pasta with Zucchini and Caramelized Onions**: This recipe elevates the classic combination of zucchini and pasta with the addition of caramelized onions. The sweetness of the onions, slowly cooked until golden brown, balances the zucchini's delicate flavor. A simple yet flavorful sauce made from white wine, broth, and Parmesan cheese envelops the pasta, creating a harmonious and satisfying dish.
3. **Pasta with Zucchini, Ricotta, and Pistachios**: This vegetarian pasta dish is a symphony of textures and flavors. Tender zucchini and creamy ricotta cheese combine with crunchy pistachios and a hint of lemon zest to create a delightful medley. The pasta is tossed in a light sauce made from olive oil, garlic, and fresh herbs, allowing the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine through.
PASTA AI FIORI DI ZUCCA (PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS)
Fresh squash blossoms and parsley give this pasta dish a wonderful summer flavor. Use your favorite pasta shape.
Provided by robwala
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Fill a large pot with water, stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil. Stir in penne and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes; drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta-cooking water.
- Clean and rinse zucchini blossoms, removing the inner parts (stigma or anthers); coarsely chop the flowers.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat; cook and stir garlic in the hot oil until it begins to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir parsley, saffron, and reserved 1/2 cup of pasta-cooking water into skillet; stir to combine. Add zucchini blossoms and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle cornmeal into mixture and stir constantly until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Gently fold penne pasta into zucchini blossom mixture and top with Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 298.7 calories, Carbohydrate 46.4 g, Cholesterol 2.2 mg, Fat 9 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 9.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 341.5 mg, Sugar 2.1 g
PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI, ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS, AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS
Provided by Lora Zarubin
Categories Onion Pasta Vegetarian Low Cal High Fiber Dinner Parmesan Summer Potluck Bon Appétit Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Gently rinse and dry zucchini blossoms. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, sprinkle with salt, and sauté until deep golden, about 20 minutes; set aside.
- Cook penne in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini blossoms and sauté until wilted, turning, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towels and gently blot. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini cubes; sprinkle with salt and sauté until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, caramelized onion, and crushed red pepper to zucchini mixture; sauté 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add vegetable mixture and 1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking liquid to pasta and toss to coat, adding more liquid if dry. Stir in cheese. Transfer pasta to large serving bowl; top with blossoms and sprinkle with parsley.
CARAMELIZED ZUCCHINI PASTA
This recipe transforms two pounds of grated fresh zucchini into one cup of caramelized zucchini that's rich, sweet and jammy enough to become a pasta sauce. Cooked over moderately high heat in a combination of olive oil and butter, the zucchini fries in its own juices and concentrates its flavor. Adding garlic and basil lends sweetness, but consider adding anchovy, preserved lemon or red-pepper flakes. As browned bits appear in the skillet, deglaze with a few tablespoons of water, chicken stock or vegetable stock to help prevent burning and to incorporate all of those tasty caramelized bits into the sauce. With time and patience, you'll have a not-so-pretty but delicious mixture, like caramelized onions made with zucchini. Eat it tossed with pasta, as is done here, or add it to sandwiches, pizzas or antipasti spreads. To get vegetarian recipes like this one delivered to your inbox, sign up for The Veggie newsletter.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories dinner, pastas
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large (at least 12-inch) cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and oil. When it's foaming, add the zucchini, garlic, the basil stems and half the basil leaves. Season with 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and cook until pooling with liquid, 5 to 7 minutes. Uncover and cook until the liquid evaporates and the zucchini starts to sizzle, 7 to 10 minutes.
- Continue to cook until the zucchini is very soft, dark green, and reduced to about 1 cup, another 20 to 25 minutes. When you see a build up of browned bits on the skillet, add a couple tablespoons of water and stir, scraping up the browned bits. Repeat anytime more browning occurs. If you see burning, deglaze with water and lower the heat. (Caramelized zucchini can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to a week; it also freezes well.)
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When the zucchini is about done, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Reserve 2 cups of pasta water, then drain the pasta. If the zucchini is ready before the pasta, keep cooking it; the zucchini will only get better the longer it cooks.
- When the pasta's drained, remove the herb stems from the zucchini. Reduce the heat on the zucchini to medium, then add the pasta, 1 cup pasta water, and the Parmesan. Stir until the pasta is glossed with sauce. Add more pasta water as needed to thin the sauce. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining basil, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with more basil, Parmesan and black pepper.
PASTA WITH CLAMS, ZUCCHINI, AND ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS
Steps:
- Soak clams in cold salted water for about 1 hour. Drain.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.
- While spaghetti is cooking, heat olive oil in a skillet and cook garlic for about 1 minute. Remove from the skillet. Add white wine and clams and cover. Cook until clams open, about 2 minutes. Remove clams from pot. Remove from shells, making sure to catch the liquid. Stir in zucchini and zucchini blossoms; season with salt and red pepper flakes and pour in clam juice. Cook until zucchini are soft, 7 to 10 minutes. When zucchini are almost soft, add clams and heat for 1 minute. Add drained spaghetti and parsley. Season with pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 764.2 calories, Carbohydrate 95.6 g, Cholesterol 118.8 mg, Fat 12.1 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 60.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 256.6 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
ZUCCHINI PASTA
The taste of this rich and creamy zucchini pasta dish will have people convinced it's not low-fat, but it is! Garlicky and fresh-flavored, this will be a hit. -Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 25m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook linguine according to package directions. In a sieve or colander, drain the zucchini, squeezing to remove excess liquid. Pat dry. , In a large nonstick skillet, saute zucchini in oil for 2 minutes. Add garlic; saute 1-2 minutes longer or until zucchini is tender. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the yogurt, cheese, salt and pepper. Drain linguine; add to zucchini mixture and toss to coat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 219 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 395mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 10g protein. Diabetic exchanges
Tips:
- Choose fresh, tender zucchini and zucchini blossoms. The younger the zucchini, the more tender and flavorful it will be. Zucchini blossoms should be picked just before they open.
- Cook the zucchini and zucchini blossoms briefly. Overcooking will make them mushy. Zucchini should be cooked until it is just tender, and zucchini blossoms should be cooked until they are just wilted.
- Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the zucchini and zucchini blossoms. This will prevent them from cooking evenly.
- Use a good quality olive oil. This will add flavor to the dish.
- Season the dish to taste with salt and pepper. You can also add other herbs and spices, such as garlic, basil, or oregano.
- Serve the pasta with grated Parmesan cheese. This will add a rich, nutty flavor to the dish.
Conclusion:
Pasta with zucchini, zucchini blossoms, and caramelized onions is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a summer meal. The zucchini and zucchini blossoms are light and refreshing, while the caramelized onions add a rich, sweet flavor. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table.
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