Hearty Tomato Zucchini Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH TOMATOES AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with salty water and place over high heat to bring it to a boil. Add the pasta to the pot while you're cooking the zucchini.
• Cook until al dente according to the package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of cooking water when you drain the pasta.
• Cut the tomatoes in half, and dice onion and zucchini. If zucchini is large, cut it lengthwise, than cut each half into three long batons. Then slice off the seeds from each baton and cut it into ½-inch cubes.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large non-stick sauté pan. Add the red onions and cook, stirring frequently, until very soft and pale purple in color, 5-6 minutes. Do not brown.
• Add the zucchini, chili flakes, about ¼ tsp of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Give a good stir and cook over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes or until the zucchini are cooked but still crisp, not mushy.
• Add the tomatoes, stir and cook until the skins burst and the tomatoes begin to release their juices, about 4 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your taste.
• Add pasta and parsley to the pan and toss gently to combine. Add a touch of pasta cooking water if the pasta dries out (you don't need all of it, but use just as much as you need to keep everything moist and juicy).
• Taste again and make sure you're happy with the seasoning.
• Remove from the stove and serve immediately with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, black pepper and garnished with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese, if you wish.

ZUCCHINI-TOMATO PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter with oil over medium heat. Add onions, cook and stir until tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until zucchini is tender and sauce reaches desired consistency, 50-60 minutes. Serve with pasta.

ZUCCHINI "FETTUCCINE" WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim and peel the zucchini, then use a mandoline or a vegetable peeler to thinly slice lengthwise into wide ribbons (stop when you get to the seeds). Cut the ribbons into 1/4-to-1/2-inch-wide strips to make them look like fettuccine. Transfer to a colander and toss with 3/4 teaspoon salt; let drain in the sink, tossing occasionally, about 30 minutes. Rinse well and pat dry.
• Meanwhile, peel the tomatoes using a sharp vegetable peeler, then halve horizontally and squeeze out the seeds. Puree 1 tomato with the olive oil, garlic, jalapeno, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a food processor or blender. Transfer to a bowl. Chop the remaining 4 tomatoes and add to the bowl; add the pine nuts, basil, oregano, and salt to taste.
• Divide the zucchini among bowls and top with the tomato sauce. Top with more pine nuts and drizzle with olive oil.

PASTA WITH TOMATO, ZUCCHINI AND CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Add oil to skillet. When oil is hot, add the garlic and saute 30 seconds.
• Add zucchini and stir-fry two minutes.
• Add tomatoes and saute for three minutes. Then add tomato sauce and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste first and, if necessary, add salt and sugar. (Mr. Perlman suggests adding the sugar only to counteract the acidity of the tomatoes.)
• Just before serving, add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese; cook for five minutes. Serve with the pasta prepared al dente.

ELEGANT ZUCCHINI AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Crumble, and return to pan. Add zucchini, onion, and salt to the bacon; cook, stirring frequently, until zucchini is tender-crisp. Add tomato wedges, basil, and ground black pepper; heat, stirring gently, until tomatoes are warm.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer vegetable mixture to a serving bowl. Top with crumbled blue cheese.

ROASTED TOMATO AND ZUCCHINI PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°.
• On rimmed baking sheet, toss zucchini, tomatoes, and garlic with 5 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Spread into single layer; roast until zucchini is lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, about 12 minutes.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water.
• Return pasta to pot. Toss with remaining tablespoon oil; cover.
• Pour reserved pasta water onto baking sheet of cooked vegetables; scrape with a wooden spoon to loosen browned bits.
• Stir vegetables and juices into pasta.
• Add parsley and Parmesan; toss to combine.
• Serve with more Parmesan.

TOMATO ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9x9-inch pan.
• In a large bowl, combine Cheddar, Parmesan, oregano, basil, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Arrange half of the zucchini slices in the pan. Sprinkle 1/4 of the cheese and herb mixture on top. Arrange half of the tomatoes, and top with another 1/4 of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onions, and cook until soft and translucent. Stir in breadcrumbs; cook until they have absorbed the butter. Sprinkle on top of casserole.
• Cover loosely with foil, and bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake until the top is crusty and the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

ROASTED ZUCCHINI AND TOMATO PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees. On rimmed baking sheet, toss zucchini, tomatoes, and garlic with 5 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Spread into single layer; roast until zucchini is lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
• In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Return pasta to pot. Toss with remaining tablespoon oil; cover.
• Pour reserved pasta water onto baking sheet of cooked vegetables; scrape with a wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Stir vegetables and juices into pasta. Add parsley and Parmesan; toss to combine. Serve with more Parmesan.

HEARTY PASTA TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker; add the next 13 ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or until the vegetables are tender. , Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain. Stir into slow cooker; cover and cook 30 minutes longer. Serve with Parmesan cheese if desired.