Creamy Zucchini Pasta

Time :30 minutes
Yield :4 servings

Recipe Background

Zucchini season will be coming soon, and you know what they say: when you have zucchini, you always have a lot of zucchinis! Best find some novel ways to use it! Creamy Zucchini Pasta is a good start! The pasta is tender and in a creamy, sharp, cheesy sauce that complements the garden juiciness of the zucchini slices. It's a speedy, rich, and buttery dish that makes the most of a garden staple, and then some! This Creamy Zucchini Pasta will be a summertime favorite from here on out!
Zucchini season will be coming soon, and you know what they say: when you have zucchini, you always have a lot of zucchinis! Best find some novel ways to use it! Creamy Zucchini Pasta is a good start! The pasta is tender and in a creamy, sharp, cheesy sauce that complements the garden juiciness of the zucchini slices. It's a speedy, rich, and buttery dish that makes the most of a garden staple, and then some! This Creamy Zucchini Pasta will be a summertime favorite from here on out!

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more, to taste
  • 2 medium zucchinis sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided, plus more, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups 2% milk
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shredded, plus more, to taste, for topping
  • 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese shredded
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup basil leaves chopped, for topping
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs for topping

Directions

  • Bring a salted pot of water to a boil.
  • Add the spaghetti to the water and cook to al dente, according to package directions.
  • Drain the spaghetti and toss with a drizzle of the extra olive oil.
  • In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat.
  • Add the zucchini slices to the skillet and cook, covered, for 1 minute.
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon of the kosher salt and the onion powder to the zucchini slices and stir to combine.
  • Reduce the heat and cook the zucchini slices, continuously flipping and shifting them so they're evenly cooked, until most of them are tender and browned, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Add the minced garlic to the zucchini slices and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Add the flour to the butter and whisk constantly for 1 minute.
  • Add the milk to the flour mixture, a little at a time, and whisk continuously.
  • Increase the heat and continue whisking until the sauce begins to bubble and thicken, about 2-4 minutes.
  • Add 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese, the Pecorino Romano cheese, the lemon zest, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to the milk mixture and stir to combine.
  • Add the cooked spaghetti and the flour mixture to the zucchini slices and stir to combine.
  • Garnish the pasta with the chopped basil, the breadcrumbs, and the extra parmesan cheese.
  • Serve.
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