Chicken Zucchini And Lemon Zest Pasta Food

SPAGHETTI WITH LEMON AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Season it generously with salt. Add the sliced lemons and blanch for 30 seconds. Using tongs, remove the lemons to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Dry well.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat another 30 seconds. Add the shallots and garlic to the skillet and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until fragrant and beginning to brown slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the capers, anchovy paste, red pepper flakes and the blanched lemon slices and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to dissolve the anchovy paste and brown the lemons, for another 2 minutes. Add the zucchini and remaining teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until parts of the zucchini turn deep brown while some parts remain al dente, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes less than package directions, about 8 minutes. Add 1/3 cup pasta water to the skillet with the zucchini and stir to deglaze. Use a pair of tongs to remove the pasta directly to the skillet. Sprinkle the bare pasta with the Parmesan and toss well to coat the pasta with the zucchini sauce. (Some of the zucchini should have gotten rather soft, which helps to create a silky sauce.) Add another 1/2 cup pasta water if needed to maintain the sauce. Top the pasta with the herbs and feta and serve.

CRISPY PAN-SEARED CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI WITH OLIVES AND LEMON

Steps:

• Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. Using the tip of your knife, deeply score cut sides in a crosshatch pattern, spacing about 1/2" apart. Toss zucchini and 1 tsp. salt in a colander set over a bowl. Let sit 10 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels (discard any liquid in bowl).
• Meanwhile, coat a large cast-iron skillet with 1 Tbsp oil. Season chicken on all sides with 1/4 tsp. pepper and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and arrange in cold skillet (skin side down) in a single layer. Heat over medium and cook, undisturbed, until skin is deep golden brown and chicken is almost cooked through, 10-12 minutes. Turn chicken and continue to cook just until cooked through and lightly browned underneath, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a platter (skin side up).
• Arrange zucchini (cut side down) in hot chicken fat in skillet. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until surfaces are charred, 6-8 minutes. Turn and continue to cook until skin side is browned, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to platter with chicken.
• Heat garlic and remaining 6 Tbsp. oil in a small saucepan over medium until garlic is sizzling and just barely beginning to brown, 3-4 minutes. Add chile and olives and cook, stirring occasionally, until chile starts to sizzle and brown slightly, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in oregano and lemon zest.
• Spoon garlic oil over zucchini and chicken. Squeeze some lemon juice over and serve with additional wedges alongside.

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.

LEMON-BASIL CHICKEN WITH ZUCCHINI NOODLES

Steps:

• Spread 1/4 cup flour on a large plate. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then dredge in the flour and shake off the excess. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat until shimmering, then add the chicken and cook until golden and almost cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side.
• Push the chicken to the edges of the skillet, add the shallot and basil stems to the middle and cook until softened but not browned, about 1 minute. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon flour and cook 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Reduce the heat and simmer, turning the chicken occasionally, until cooked through and the sauce is thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and swirl in 2 tablespoons butter until melted. Add the lemon zest and season with salt and pepper.
• Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini noodles and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until just softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss in half the torn basil. Divide among plates and top with the chicken, lemon sauce, remaining basil and red pepper flakes.

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.

LEMONY FUSILLI WITH CHICKEN, ZUCCHINI, AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water with 2 teaspoons of the salt to a boil; add the fusilli. Cook until al dente.
• Warm 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the zucchini, scallions, pine nuts, lemon peel, red pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt; cook, tossing frequently, until zucchini is well browned and tender, about 5 minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer zucchini to a serving bowl. Remove lemon peel from pan. Mince 1/2 teaspoon of the peel and discard the rest. Squeeze half the lemon over the zucchini.
• Turn heat to medium-high and swirl in remaining olive oil. Add the chicken, minced lemon peel, and remaining salt; cook, stirring, until golden, about 7 minutes.
• Drain fusilli, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Add fusilli, zucchini, and reserved cooking water to skillet. Cook 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and top with the basil and, if using, Parmesan.