Zucchini pasta with almond pesto is a light and refreshing dish that's perfect for a summer meal. Made with fresh zucchini noodles, a flavorful almond pesto, and topped with crumbled feta cheese and toasted pine nuts, this dish is sure to impress your friends and family. It is also a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables. You don't need a spiralizer to make this veggie-packed pasta dish. Simply use a vegetable peeler to create long, thin strips of zucchini. Then, toss the zucchini noodles with a creamy and flavorful almond pesto. Top it off with crumbled feta cheese and toasted pine nuts, and you've got a delicious and healthy meal that's ready in just 30 minutes. We also have variations of this recipe for those with different dietary preferences, including a vegan zucchini pasta with almond pesto and a zucchini pasta with arugula pesto.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
ZUCCHINI PASTA
Zucchini, not pasta, is the star of the show in this easy weeknight dish from Mark Bittman. Six zucchinis, two tomatoes and one onion for a half pound of pasta make this a vegetable-rich tangle that makes worthy use of your farmers' market haul.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories pastas, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini, onion and thyme, and cook, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper and adjust heat so onion and zucchini release their liquid without browning. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until very tender.
- Add tomatoes and their liquid to zucchini and raise heat a bit so mixture bubbles. Cook pasta until it is nearly but not quite tender. If sauce threatens to dry out, add a little pasta cooking water.
- Drain pasta and finish cooking it in sauce. Serve, garnished with parsley or Parmesan.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 407, UnsaturatedFat 12 grams, Carbohydrate 58 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 1028 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams
CREAMY PASTA WITH ROASTED ZUCCHINI, ALMONDS AND BASIL
Whole-grain pasta offerings on supermarket shelves have expanded with gusto. Unlike the gluey, good-for-you-but-not-your-tastebuds pastas of yore, the best whole-grain brands are firm-textured and tasty. The warm, nutty flavor of varieties like these is robust enough to stand up to intense, complicated sauces, yet satisfying with just a little butter and Parmesan shaved over the top. Here, pasta with creamy goat cheese and a bite of citrus is enough to keep even the most staunch of whole-wheat opponents satisfied.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, easy, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 500 degrees. Toss the zucchini and oil with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Arrange zucchini on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast, tossing occasionally, until golden and tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toast the almonds in a skillet over medium heat until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
- Simmer the cream and basil sprig in a small saucepan over medium heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 7 minutes. Whisk in the goat cheese until the sauce is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and keep warm.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain well. Toss the pasta with the cream sauce. Serve topped with the zucchini and almonds.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 642, UnsaturatedFat 18 grams, Carbohydrate 73 grams, Fat 34 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 20 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 821 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams
EASY BASIL PESTO WITH ALMONDS
Save some money using garden-grown basil and almonds in place of pricey pine nuts. This recipe is easy, fast, and very tasty. Summer on a plate! Serve over warm pasta with a side salad and a nice loaf of bread. I also spread this on toast. If you have left over, put in a small jar and drizzle some olive oil over the top. Keep refrigerated.
Provided by SAS4U
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes
Time 5m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine basil, Parmesan cheese, almonds, olive oil, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until blended. Pour in more olive oil, with the processor running, until pesto is thick and smooth.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 226.4 calories, Carbohydrate 3 g, Cholesterol 8.8 mg, Fat 21.5 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 6.4 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 154 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
Tips:
- Choose the right zucchini. Smaller zucchini tend to have fewer seeds and a milder flavor.
- Use a spiralizer or peeler to create zucchini noodles. If you don't have a spiralizer, you can also use a vegetable peeler to create thin strips of zucchini.
- Blanch the zucchini noodles for a few minutes. This will help them stay firm and prevent them from becoming too watery.
- Make the almond pesto ahead of time. This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.
- Serve the zucchini pasta with your favorite toppings. Some popular options include grilled chicken, shrimp, or vegetables.
Conclusion:
Zucchini pasta with almond pesto is a delicious and healthy meal that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With its vibrant colors and fresh flavors, this dish is sure to impress your friends and family.
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