Lemon Pasta Stuffed Zucchini Recipes

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.

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.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
• Combine the rice with the beef, lemon zest and juice, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup parsley, the basil, pine nuts and garlic in a medium bowl. Season with a 4-finger pinch of salt and a generous amount of pepper. Mix with a fork until well combined; set aside.
• Scoop out the flesh from the zucchini with a melon baller or teaspoon, leaving a 1/4-inch-thick shell. Reserve the scooped-out flesh. Cut the zucchini boats crosswise into 2-inch pieces.
• Combine the reserved zucchini flesh with the onions and tomatoes in a large cast-iron or heavy ovenproof skillet. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with oil and toss. Add the remaining 1/2 cup tomato sauce and toss again.
• Using your hands or a small spoon, gently stuff each zucchini shell with about 2 tablespoons of the meat filling, pressing to carefully pack it in. Nestle the stuffed zucchini into the vegetables in the skillet and drizzle with oil.
• Bake until the vegetables are soft and the meat is cooked through, about 25 minutes. Garnish with grated Parmesan and the remaining 1/4 cup parsley. Enjoy!

LEMON PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of aggressively salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the farfalle and cook for 1 to 2 minutes less than the package instructions, until al dente. Drain and reserve 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) of the pasta water.
• While the pasta cooks, make the sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the lemon zest and juice. Add 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of the pasta water and bring to a low simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Stir in the cream and the remaining 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) pasta water if it is dry. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese. Serve with freshly ground black pepper and more Parmesan.