Creamy Courgette Bacon Pasta Recipes

BEAUTIFUL COURGETTE CARBONARA

Steps:

• Put a large pan of salted water on to boil.
• Halve and then quarter any larger courgettes lengthways. Cut out and discard any fluffy middle bits, and slice the courgettes at an angle into pieces roughly the same size and shape as the penne. Smaller courgettes can simply be sliced finely.
• Your water will now be boiling, so add the penne to the pan and cook according to the packet instructions.
• To make your creamy carbonara sauce, separate the eggs and put the yolks into a bowl (saving the whites for another recipe). Add the cream and grate in half the Parmesan, and mix together with a fork. Season lightly with sea salt and black pepper, and put to one side.
• Heat a very large frying pan (a 35cm one is a good start - every house should have one!) and add a good splash of olive oil. Cut the pancetta or bacon into chunky lardons and fry until dark brown and crisp.
• Add the courgette slices and 2 big pinches of black pepper, not just to season but to give it a bit of a kick. Pick, chop and sprinkle in the thyme leaves (reserving any flowers), give everything a stir, so the courgettes become coated with all the lovely bacon-flavoured oil, and fry until they start to turn lightly golden and have softened slightly.
• It's very important to get this next bit right or your carbonara could end up ruined. You need to work quickly. When the pasta is cooked, drain it, reserving a little of the cooking water. Immediately, toss the pasta in the pan with the courgettes, bacon and lovely flavours, then remove from the heat and add a ladleful of the reserved cooking water and your creamy sauce. Stir together quickly. (No more cooking now, otherwise you'll scramble the eggs.)
• Get everyone around the table, ready to eat straight away. While you're tossing the pasta and sauce, grate in the rest of the Parmesan and add a little more of the cooking water if needed, to give you a silky and shiny sauce. Taste quickly for seasoning.
• If you've managed to get any courgette flowers, tear them over the top, then serve and eat immediately, as the sauce can become thick and stodgy if left too long.

CREAMY COURGETTE & BACON PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and sizzle the pancetta or bacon for about 5 mins until starting to crisp. Turn up the heat and add the grated courgette to the pan. Cook for 5 mins or until soft and starting to brown then add the garlic and cook for a minute longer. Season and set aside.
• Cook the tagliatelle according to the pack instructions and scoop out a cupful of cooking water. Drain the tagliatelle and tip into the frying pan with the bacon and courgette. Over a low heat toss everything together with the crème fraiche and half the Parmesan adding a splash of pasta water too if you need to loosen the sauce. Season to taste and serve twirled into bowls with the remaining Parmesan scattered over.

BACON, COURGETTE & CAPER ONE-POT PASTA

Steps:

• Put the lardons in a pan and fry over a medium heat for 5 mins until crisp and golden. Remove from the pan and pour off any fat.
• Heat the oil in the same pan and fry the courgette and garlic for 6-8 mins until lightly golden and most of the water has evaporated. Add the tagliatelle and pour in 400ml water. Stir until the pasta nests unravel, then cook uncovered for 7-9 mins, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente. Stir in the capers, lemon zest and juice, pecorino and lardons, adding a splash more water if it looks a little dry. Stir for a few seconds until the cheese starts to melt. Fold in the rocket until just starting to wilt, then serve.

CREAMY COURGETTE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil, then cook the pasta according to pack instructions.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan, then add the courgettes. Cook for 5 mins until softened and lightly golden. Reduce the heat, then add the lemon zest. Gently cook for a further min, add the soft cheese and milk, then mix together until the cheese melts. Season to taste.
• Drain the pasta and return to the pan. Add the contents of the frying pan and stir well. Serve immediately.