Creamy Zucchini Pasta Recipe
This creamy zucchini pasta recipe combines tender zucchini and shallots with a rich, garlicky cream sauce, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese for a deliciously smooth and comforting pasta dish. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying meal any day, the sauce is blended to perfection and tossed with al dente pasta for a luscious bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz Long pasta (spaghetti, fusilli, or bucatini)
- ½ cup Pasta water (reserved from boiling pasta)
Sauce
- ¼ cup Extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cups Diced zucchini (fresh)
- 2 medium Shallots (sliced)
- 1 tablespoon Minced garlic
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 20 leaves Basil (fresh)
- 1 teaspoon Sea salt
- ½ teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper
- ¾ cup Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining the noodles.
- Sauté Vegetables: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the diced zucchini and sliced shallots, cooking until they are softened and tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, allowing the garlic to become fragrant without burning.
- Create Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream, then add the fresh basil leaves, sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese into the zucchini mixture. Stir well to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Incorporate Pasta Water and Blend: Add the reserved ½ cup of pasta water to the sauce to help loosen it. Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce directly in the saucepan until mostly smooth with a creamy texture.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the sauce. Toss everything together to ensure the noodles are fully coated with the creamy zucchini sauce.
- Serve: Plate the creamy zucchini pasta and garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper if desired. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water carefully as it helps adjust the sauce consistency and enhances creaminess.
- Use fresh basil leaves for the best flavor profile in the sauce.
- If you prefer a chunkier sauce, blend less or skip blending.
- Heavy cream can be substituted with half-and-half for a lighter option, though the sauce won’t be as rich.
- This dish works well with gluten-free pasta for dietary preferences.
Keywords: creamy zucchini pasta, zucchini pasta recipe, easy pasta sauce, creamy pasta, zucchini recipes, Italian pasta dish
Find it online: https://trendytasterecipes.com/creamy-zucchini-pasta-recipe/
