Zucchini Tomato Pasta Food

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.

SPAGHETTI WITH ZUCCHINI AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Combine the zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, fennel, onion, garlic and oregano in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, red pepper flakes and a pinch each of salt and pepper and give it a good toss. Dump that out onto 2 baking sheets and spread it out evenly. Roast until the squash and other vegetables begin to caramelize, 15 to 25 minutes. Scrape the vegetables into a large bowl and cover with a plate to keep warm.
• The pasta water should be boiling by now. Add the spaghetti and stir to separate the strands. Cook until al dente, 8 to 9 minutes, then drain.
• Toss the spaghetti with the vegetable mixture. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top and toss together. Divide among bowls. Garnish with parmesan, if desired.

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 TOMATO PASTA FRITTATA

Steps:

• In a oven-proof 10-inch skillet (or a large skillet) melt butter and sauté the onions, zucchini and tomatoes for 2-3 minutes (this can be done hours in advance).
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs with half and half cream, basil and Romano or Parmesan cheese.
• Add in sautéed zucchini mixture, pasta, seasoning salt (or regular salt) and pepper; mix well to combine.
• Heat oil in the frypan.
• Add in the egg/pasta mixture; tossing with a spatula or metal tongs for 3 minutes on top of stove.
• At this point you can sprinkle Parmesan, grated cheddar or mozzarella cheese ON TOP of the frittata before baking if desired, but it is optional.
• Set oven to 400°F and transfer the frypan to the oven.
• Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until eggs are set and puffed (try not to over bake, or you frittata will be dry).
• Remove from oven and allow frittata to set for about 1 minute, then unmold onto serving platter.
• Cut into wedges and serve.

ZUCCHINI "PASTA" WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat.
• Add tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, sugar, salt and pepper, cook, uncovered, for 7 to 10 minutes or until excess moisture has evaporated.
• Remove bay leaf.
• Meanwhile, slice unpeeled zucchini lengthwise into long wide strips about 1/8 inch thick.
• (Use a veggie slicer or I find a veggie peeler is best, in long single swipes.) In a large frypan, heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil over high heat.
• Add half of the zucchini strips and half of the garlic, sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne, cook, stirring almost constantly for about 3 minutes or until zucchini is tender and golden, being careful not to break it.
• Remove to paper towel lined baking sheet and keep warm in low oven.
• Repeat with remaining oil, zucchini, garlic and cayenne.
• Arrange zucchini mixture on warmed serving platter.
• Pour sauce over and sprinkle with parmesan.
• Serve immediately.

SAUSAGE, ZUCCHINI, SPINACH AND TOMATO PASTA

Steps:

• In a large 12 inch deep fry pan or skillet, cook spinach and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Cook until spinach is wilted (approximately 5 minutes).
• Transfer spinach to cutting board to cool. When cool, chop spinach.
• In hot skillet, add the other tablespoon olive oil.
• Add chopped zucchini.
• Salt and pepper, to taste.
• Cook until lightly browned (about 3 minutes). Set zucchini aside.
• Turn heat to medium high.
• Add sausage and crushed red pepper.
• Cook until browned (about 7 minutes). Drain if you like; I don't because turkey sausage is generally pretty lean.
• Add tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, and half and half.
• Cook on medium high for ten minutes; reduce heat to low.
• Meanwhile, boil water and cook pasta.
• Drain pasta (do not rinse) and add to sausage mixture.
• Cook on low for about five minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.

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.