This baked zucchini pasta is straightforward Italian consolation meals you’ll crave all summer time lengthy! Creamy, tacky, and filled with recent zucchini from each a wealthy zucchini sauce and tender sautéed zucchini.
When zucchini season is in full swing, this baked zucchini pasta is a favourite I realized from my mother-in-law. A fast bake retains it crisp as a substitute of soggy, and mixing a part of the zucchini right into a wealthy, creamy sauce provides layers of flavors.
Recent mint whereas non-obligatory provides a novel contact that pairs so properly with the melted cheese. In case your backyard is overflowing with summer time zucchini, my zucchini cream cheese pasta is one other creamy twist or this straightforward baked zucchini Parmesan for a savory dish with out pasta.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Nice texture: A silky zucchini sauce coats the pasta, whereas crisp sautéed zucchini items add chew.
- Filled with taste: Garlic, oregano, purple pepper flakes, and recent mint create a novel, savory mixture.
- Fast bake: Just some minutes within the oven retains every thing heat and melty with out turning soggy.
Ingredient Notes
- Zucchini: Use recent, agency zucchini for the perfect texture and taste.
- Onion or Shallot: Both provides a light sweetness that balances the zucchini.
- Garlic: Calmly sautéed for refined taste.
- Cream: Entire, heavy, or whipping cream all work to make the sauce wealthy and silky.
- Parmigiano Reggiano: Provides a salty, nutty taste to the sauce and topping. For a stronger, sharper style, you possibly can swap some or all of it with Pecorino Romano.
Mozzarella: Use agency shredded mozzarella for the perfect soften and a golden prime. - Recent mint: Non-compulsory, nevertheless it brings a shiny, distinctive be aware that pairs superbly with the richness.
- Oregano and purple pepper flakes: Easy seasonings that add heat and a bit kick.
- Pasta: Quick shapes like penne, ziti or rigatoni work greatest for holding the sauce.
Tips on how to Make Baked Zucchini Pasta
To start out, sauté the chopped zucchini with onion, garlic, oregano, and a pinch of purple pepper flakes. Prepare dinner simply till the zucchini is tender and flippantly golden in spots.
Subsequent, mix a portion of the cooked zucchini with cream and loads of freshly grated Parmigiano. This creates a wealthy, silky sauce that’s filled with taste.
Pour the sauce over your cooked pasta together with the remaining zucchini. Toss every thing collectively so every bit is coated within the creamy sauce.
Switch the combination to a baking dish, prime with shredded mozzarella and extra Parmesan cheese then bake briefly simply till the cheese is melted and effervescent. Garnish with recent parsley and serve.
ideas and variations
- Take away the garlic: After sautéing, take out the garlic clove so its taste doesn’t dominate the sauce.
- Ricotta layers: Add spoonfuls of ricotta and layer pasta within the baking dish for an additional creamy texture.
- Further creamy sauce: Stir in a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce appears too thick.
- Recent herbs: Garnish with recent basil as a substitute of parsley for a shiny twist.
- Add protein: Make it heartier by stirring in grilled hen, crispy pancetta, or shrimp, like in my zucchini shrimp pasta for a satisfying meal.
Extra Zucchini Recipes
Trying up a manner to make use of Summer time zucchini? Then I hope you take pleasure in this baked zucchini pasta too! Buon Appetito.
- 4-5 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 small onion or shallot (finely chopped)
- 3-4 cups chopped zucchini
- ½-1 teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1-2 dashes sizzling pepper flakes
- 2-3 recent mint leaves
- ¾ cup freshly grated parmigiano
- ¾ cup cream (entire, heavy or whipping cream)
- 3-4 cups cooked pasta (about 2 cups dry)
EXTRAS
- 1-1½ cups shredded agency mozzarella
- 2-3 tablespoons freshly grated parmigiano
- 1-2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
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Pre-heat the oven to 400F / 200C.
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In a big frying pan / skillet add the garlic clove and the chopped onion or shallot cook dinner on medium excessive warmth for 2-3 minutes, then add the zucchini, oregano, salt, sizzling pepper flakes and mint leaves if utilizing, proceed to cook dinner for 5-8 minutes stirring usually. Take away the garlic clove.
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In a blender or meals processor add 2/3 of the zucchini combination add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix till easy. Add the parmigiano and the cream, mix till creamy. Mix this combination with the cooked al dente pasta and the remaining zucchini.
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Pour right into a medium sized baking dish and prime with the shredded cheese and parmigiano. Bake for 5-8 minutes. Sprinkle with the finely chopped parsley and serve. Get pleasure from!
You should utilize totally different cheese corresponding to shredded provolone or fontina, these are good melty substitutes if you wish to swap up the flavour.
Tips on how to retailer the zucchini pasta
Preserve leftovers lined within the fridge for as much as 2 days. Reheat gently within the oven or microwave till warmed by.
This dish doesn’t freeze properly because the zucchini and cream sauce can turn out to be watery when thawed.
Energy: 679kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 26g | Fats: 46g | Saturated Fats: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 19g | Ldl cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 773mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1472IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 534mg | Iron: 2mg | Phosphorus: 451mg
FAQs
Quick pasta like penne, rigatoni, or fusilli works greatest as a result of it holds the creamy sauce in each chew.
Sure! You’ll be able to substitute yellow summer time squash or diced eggplant. Simply remember to cook dinner them till tender as eggplant might have a number of additional minutes.
It’s scrumptious with a easy inexperienced salad and crusty Italian bread. You might additionally serve it alongside grilled hen or fish.
Preserve leftovers lined within the fridge for as much as 2 days. Reheat gently within the oven or microwave till warmed by.
No, this dish doesn’t freeze properly because the zucchini and cream sauce can turn out to be watery when thawed.
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