Baked Pasta with Feta and Zucchini, a quick and different first course, with a creamy and flavorful sauce. It is nothing more than a variation of pasta with pork cheek and cherry tomatoes, equally easy and quick to prepare.
A summer first course, despite the sauce being cooked in the oven. Zucchini and feta are baked with pine nuts and aromatic herbs. I used basil, but you can replace it with other herbs to your liking.
As already mentioned, the sauce cooks in the oven, resulting in a creamy and enveloping dish. The crunchiness of the pine nuts will be the right contrast to the creaminess of the cheese. Curious to find out how to prepare it? Then let’s head to the kitchen, because the baked pasta with feta and zucchini will be ready in a click!
If you are interested in other first course recipes, also check out:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Oven, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
- Energy 301.89 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 22.90 (g) of which sugars 0.70 (g)
- Proteins 10.09 (g)
- Fat 20.03 (g) of which saturated 4.98 (g)of which unsaturated 6.99 (g)
- Fibers 2.26 (g)
- Sodium 1,201.26 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 200 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 8.5 oz pasta
- 2 zucchini
- 3.5 oz feta
- 1.5 oz pine nuts
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- basil (fresh to taste)
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
Tools
- High-sided Saucepan
- Baking Dish
- Cutting Board
- Knife
Steps
First, cook the pasta in plenty of salted water. Then clean the zucchini by removing the ends. Cut them into not too large pieces to facilitate cooking. Then clean the basil and put some oil in a baking dish. Place the feta in the center and then distribute the zucchini. Add the pine nuts and the basil leaves, whole or chopped if preferred.
Season with salt and pepper, add a little more oil, and bake in a preheated oven at 355°F (180°C) with static function for 25 minutes. After the cooking time, take out the baking dish and mix the zucchini and feta, which will have become very soft. Add the pasta and a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water.
Mix well to blend the pasta with the sauce and serve.
Storage and Tips for Pasta with Feta and Zucchini
The pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days in a container with a lid.
FAQ Questions and Answers for Pasta with Feta and Zucchini
What can I substitute for pine nuts?
As an alternative to pine nuts, you can use almonds, walnuts, or other nuts to your liking.
