Penne with sautéed zucchini, a first course that is easy, very quick to prepare and very tasty. A preview of spring on the table with this recipe to which you can add other ingredients as you wish, such as other vegetables, meats, cured meats or fish. In short, use your imagination for this basic recipe to customize as you like. Finally it’s time to buy the first tender zucchinis with few seeds inside and below I leave you more ideas to draw inspiration from.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 servings
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Spring, Summer
Ingredients
- Half red onion
- 11 oz penne rigate
- 2 zucchini (medium)
- to taste parsley (chopped fresh)
- 2.25 tsp coarse salt (for the pasta)
- 3 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup water (hot)
- 1 pinch fine salt (for the zucchini)
Tools
- 1 Knife
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Pan
- 1 Lid
- 1 Colander
- 1 Pot
- 1 Wooden spoon
Steps
To make Penne with sautéed zucchini, first cut half a red onion into cubes after removing the skin and root. Wash and dry the zucchinis, trim the ends and also cut them into cubes. Chop the parsley after washing and drying it, fairly coarsely.
In a large pan heat the oil and add the onion. Sauté for two minutes over low heat and add the zucchinis. Meanwhile put a pot of salted water on the stove and as soon as it boils cook the penne until al dente. To the zucchinis add one cup of hot water, salt, stir and cover with a lid. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. The zucchinis should soften but if you prefer them crunchy, cook them two minutes less.
Drain the pasta, add it to the sauce adding another small ladle of hot water if needed and the parsley. Mix very well and serve.
This recipe is prepared in a very short time, so it is not necessary to make it in advance, but if you wish you can prepare the zucchini base in advance, once cooled store it in the refrigerator for up to two days in a covered container.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I use other pasta shapes?
Certainly, shorter shapes are preferable if possible, but spaghetti also pairs well with this recipe. You can also choose shapes made from different grains, such as whole wheat, buckwheat or gluten-free.
