This summertime zucchini pasta is light, creamy and delicious. Zucchini has a mild and almost sweet taste and is plentiful in the summer. If you’ve never tried zucchini now is your chance. The creamy lemony sauce pairs nicely with this veggie and you might find yourself a new lover of zucchini!
I especially love this dish on a weeknight because its so easy to throw together. Pick your favorite pasta, grab some zucchini, tomatoes, lemon and fresh basil toss in some garlic, cream and parmesan cheese and you’re good to go. If you’re not in love with zucchini feel free to change it up, try asparagus or yellow squash or leave it out entirely. My kids don’t like zucchini, but they love the creamy lemony sauce so they just eat around it. I think this is the perfect dish for those hot summer nights.
Summertime Zucchini Pasta with Lemon & Basil
This pasta dish is packed with your favorite summer veggies like zucchini and tomatoes. Then its tossed in a light, lemon cream sauce with fresh basil and parmesan cheese. I think its the perfect dish for those hot summer nights.
Ingredients
- 16 oz. Pasta (Penne, Rotini, Rigatoni, Bowtie)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 zucchini, sliced & halved (half moons)
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- Zest of 2 lemons
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup freshly grate parmesan cheese
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, Chiffonade (cut into thin strips)
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions
1. Using a deep and large sauté pan add oil and heat until warm
2. Add zucchini, making sure the pieces are flat. Season zucchini with 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes until edges start to brown. Flip and continue cooking on the other side for 1 minute.
3. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Add cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and let reduce & thicken about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Add pasta to cream sauce. Stir to combine
6. Add tomatoes and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine
7. Just before serving add basil and gently stir.
Serve! Top each dish with more parmesan and basil if desired, enjoy!
Notes
- Any pasta will work in this recipe. I prefer a noodle that the sauce can cling to such as a short tube pasta, but any kind will work.
- Feel free to change up the veggies you use in this recipe. What ever you are in the mood for or have on hand will work! I think asparagus and zucchini would be delicious or even use only asparagus.
