Pasta Con Zucchini with Ricotta and Parmesan

Pasta Con Zucchini with Ricotta and Parmesan

from darngoodveggies.com
20 min

Pasta Con Zucchini - an easy traditional Italian pasta with seasonal zucchini, ricotta, parmesan, and penne. Gluten free & vegan adaptable.

Ingredients

  • 12 oz penne
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil , divided
  • 2 large or 4 small zucchini, sliced into rounds
  • Salt and pepper
  • Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup ricotta
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, optional

Directions

  1. 1

    Cook your pasta according to the package directions, leaving it al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. You may need it later to bring the sauce together.

  2. 2

    Heat half of the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add in the zucchini, fry until the bottom side is golden, about 3-5 minutes then flip. Season the top with salt and pepper and continue cooking until the second side is golden. Remove from the pan and set aside. You may need to cook the zucchini in two batches. Add more oil to the pan between batches if needed.

  3. 3

    To the pan, add the remaining oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook 1 minute until fragrant. Turn off the heat.

  4. 4

    Add the pasta, lemon, and ricotta to the pan. Toss until creamy, adding in a splash of pasta water if needed. Stir in the zucchini and top with parmesan cheese and parsley.