Lemon Pasta Stuffed Zucchini Recipes

LEMONY PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI AND FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Add pasta and cook until it is just under al dente, 1 minute less than package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, prepare the zucchini or other squash: Season chunks with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the squash in one layer (you may need to do this in two batches) and cook undisturbed until it begins to turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from the pan and set aside. Taste and season again, if necessary.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan. Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook until the garlic becomes translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the squash back to the pan along with the lemon juice and half the lemon zest. Toss to combine.
• Add the pasta to the skillet, and toss to combine. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta water and the grated cheese, and toss until the cheese emulsifies and is silky. If needed, add an additional 1/4 cup pasta water or more to loosen. Add the fresh herbs and toss again. Top with additional herbs and the remaining lemon zest. Serve in bowls, and pass grated cheese at the table. Season with flaky salt, if desired.

LEMONY SPAGHETTI AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions; drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini noodles, lemon zest, red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, tossing gently with tongs, until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the pasta and reserved cooking water and toss to combine. Stir in the lemon juice and Parmesan. Season with salt.
• Transfer the spaghetti to a serving bowl. Top with more Parmesan and red pepper flakes and serve with lemon wedges.

LEMON-GARLIC ZUCCHINI NOODLES

Steps:

• Use a spiralizer to cut zucchini into thick or thin ribbons, your preference.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and garlic, and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add zucchini and toss to coat with the butter-garlic sauce. Saute until zucchini noodles are slightly softened or have reached desired tenderness, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in lemon juice, lemon-pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt, and remove from the heat. Garnish with a sprinkle of parsley and lemon zest, and serve.

ZUCCHINI AND LEMON LINGUINE

Steps:

• Cook the linguine following the packet instructions, then drain quickly so some cooking water is still clinging to the strands.
• Tip back into the cooking pan with the grated zucchini, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, chili flakes and most of the basil.
• Season generously and toss everything together using tongs.
• Scatter with the remaining basil leaves and serve.

PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI, FETA AND FRIED LEMON

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse pasta with cool water to stop cooking and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking; set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add walnuts, if using, and toss to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until walnuts are toasted and golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or strainer, transfer the walnuts to a small bowl (leaving the oil behind) and season with salt; set aside.
• Add shallots and lemon to the oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until both the shallots and lemons are totally softened and have begun to caramelize, 5 to 8 minutes. Add capers and stir to coat in the oil, letting them sizzle a minute or two.
• Add zucchini and season with salt and pepper. (Do not be alarmed at the amount of zucchini in the skillet; it will cook down by about half.) Cook, stirring occasionally, until much of the water has evaporated from the zucchini and it has totally softened, become translucent and is beginning to brown at the edges, 10 to 15 minutes. (This mixture should be very flavorful and lightly saucy.)
• Remove pan from heat and add pasta, tossing to coat. (If your skillet is very full, you can always transfer everything to a large bowl and toss to coat there.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer pasta to a large serving bowl and top with toasted walnuts, feta and herbs, finishing with a drizzle of olive oil.