Linguine and Zucchini On Your Table In Minutes

pasta with veggies

We all need a quick go to meal, one that we can put together in minutes without much thought. This recipe uses ingredients that are very inexpensive and easy to find but when put together tastes like a million bucks!

Linguine and zucchini, a match made in heaven, but truth be told you can really use any shape of pasta for this dish, use what you have and like, you can’t go wrong.

Zucchini coins that are pan fried in olive oil gives you the flavor base along with toasted breadcrumbs, pecorino cheese, parsley and toasty nuts and of course my choice, good old fashioned toothsome linguine pasta.

pasta and veggie

Fry up as many zucchini you like, you’d be surprised how many slices you get from just one good sized zucchini. You can go heavy on the veg and light on the pasta amount, or visa versa, it’s up to you.

fried zucchini

When you pan fry the zucchini it goes really fast, it doesn’t take long before you’ll get a nice golden brown color on them. The time it takes you to boil the water you’ll be done with the frying.

 

linguine with vegetables

This is such a satisfying and comforting dish quick to make for mid week or the weekend, I hope you make this linguine and zucchini for your family!

5.0 from 2 reviews
Linguine and Zucchini On Your Table In Minutes
 
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Ingredients
  • Linguine pasta, or any other of your choice, ½ lb. or 1 lb. However much you want to make
  • 1 or 2 zucchini, medium sized sliced into coins
  • 2 shaved garlic cloves
  • a generous handful of toasted walnuts, grated Pecorino or Parmesan along with breadcrumbs, preferably homemade
  • chopped parsley
  • red pepper flakes, (optional)
  • olive oil
Instructions
  1. In a frying pan cover the bottom with olive oil and start frying your zucchini coins, sprinkle with salt and pepper and set aside on paper towels to drain.
  2. Have your salted pasta water going while you’re frying up the zucchini.
  3. When done frying the zucchini, add more oil to the bottom of the pan and toss in the shaved garlic, the toasted nuts and the breadcrumbs, everything should be golden and toasty.
  4. Cook your pasta Al dente, reserve some hot pasta water then drain the pasta and toss it into the pan with the breadcrumb mixture.
  5. Gently toss in half of your zucchini coins, combining well.
  6. If you feel you need to loosen things up add in some of the pasta water.
  7. You can then toss in your parsley, check for seasoning adding salt, pepper, more cheese and maybe an extra drizzle of olive oil, it's up to your taste buds.
  8. Place pasta into your serving dish and top with the remaining zucchini coins for a nice presentation along with a sprinkling of nuts and more parsley.

 

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Lasagnetti with Crumbled Sausage, Asparagus and Zucchini Coins

lasagnetti pasta

I always gravitate towards the unique non traditional pasta shapes, when I see a shelf full of them I always have to grab a bag or two. My pantry is stocked with different shapes just waiting to be cooked up, so every now and then I will showcase one here on my blog.

Like these cute little lasagnetti which I recently found, they look like mini one inch square lasagne sheets. As far as what kind of sauce to serve with it, my first idea was to toss them into marinara and then dot the whole thing with fresh ricotta and a little romano, but I wanted something different this time and since fresh asparagus has been popping up all over in my area I used that as my inspiration to make this dish.

The combination of roasted zucchini coins, asparagus, medium spicy Italian sausage and sauteed grape tomatoes turned out to be the perfect flavor combination to grace my lasagnetti. Of course, any sturdy pasta shape would do, but if you’re interested my fellow Chicagoans, I got this pasta at Caputo’s.

If you’re looking for something a little different for your next dinner party I would suggest this dish, not only does it taste great it looks really nice spread out on a platter!

It’s fun to get out of your comfort zone every now and then!

Lasagnetti with Crumbled Sausage, Asparagus and Zucchini Coins
 
Ingredients
  • 3 small yellow squash cut in ¼ inch slice
  • 3 small zucchini cut in ¼ inch slice
  • 1 lb. fresh asparagus cut diagonally
  • 12 or more grape tomatoes cut in half
  • 1 large shallot finely chopped
  • 1 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
  • ½ cup each of white wine, chicken broth and pasta water
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb. of cooked lasagnetti or any sturdy pasta, reserve ½ cup pasta water
  • 1 cup of ricotta
  • fresh basil and grated romano for garnish
Instructions
  1. Roast zucchini coins and asparagus on a baking sheet drizzled in olive oil at 425 until golden brown.
  2. Saute the tomatoes in olive oil in a small skillet.
  3. Brown sausage in a skillet with the chopped shallot and garlic cloves, my sausage is very lean so I add a little olive oil when browning. When sausage is cooked through add in the wine, broth, ¼ cup olive oil and pasta water, this will be the base for your sauce.
  4. Toss everything into a large bowl coating the cooked pasta with the sauce, tossing with grated cheese, fresh snipped basil and salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Place on a platter and dot with fresh ricotta and a drizzle more of olive oil if needed.
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Zucchini Coins with Fettucine

Good food doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact some of our favorite meals are very simple and not complicated at all. For a few dollars and less than 30 minutes you could have this on your table, and probably some leftovers for lunch the next day.

We enjoy meatless meals often. Sometimes I walk up to the meat counter and do a blank stare.

Been there, done that, did it! Don’t get me wrong, we’re meat eaters, but I have to say my favorite sections at the markets are the produce sections, I just love the variety, in fact that’s where I spend most of my money!

For this dish, cut your zucchini into coins and saute in olive oil till golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels. In the meantime have your water boiling for your 1lb of pasta. In the same pan you sauteed your zucchini, add 2 shaved garlic cloves and about 1/4 cup of olive oil cook till light golden, also add some pine nuts till toasty. Add your cooked pasta and about 3/4 cup of reserved pasta water.

Turn off your heat, add back your zucchini, a good amount of grated romano, and chopped fresh parsley. Toss gently.
Believe it or not I’ve never had a veggie garden, I usually only want to grow tons of herbs, especially my beloved basil!
This year hubby’s going to try organic veggies (he’s the gardener) he just broke ground on Saturday. I’ll show you how things go as we progress.

Buon Appetito!!
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