The Creamy Zucchini Bow-Tie Pasta recipe is amazingly easy to prepare and makes a flavorful meal within 30 minutes. This pasta dish is rich and creamy without being too heavy!
Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water according to the package instructions. Then, reserve a cupful of starchy pasta water and drain the pasta. Do not rinse the pasta.
While pasta is cooking, add olive oil to a large nonstick frying pan and heat until slightly warm. Add grated zucchini, mix well, and cook on low-medium heat.
Cook the zucchini for about 5 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally. Add oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Mix well.
Turn the heat on low, add the cream, and cook for a minute or until it starts simmering.
Once the cream is hot and bubbling, add cheese, drained pasta, and ½ cup of pasta water. Quickly mix until everything is well combined and the cheese is melted.
Season the pasta with salt and pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated, adding more pasta water if needed.
Adjust the seasonings if required, turn off the heat, and enjoy a delicious pasta dish.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the pasta with your choice of toppings or garnishes. For example, you can top the pasta with fresh basil or more cheddar cheese.
Sprinkle more red pepper flakes (if you like spicy pasta) or sumac before serving.
Storing Suggestions
Store the leftover pasta in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days. While reheating, add a little milk or cream to loosen up the pasta.
Notes
Boiling The Pasta: Salt the pasta water generously, and do not rinse the pasta after draining.
Reserving Pasta Water: Adding plain water to pasta dilutes the flavor of the dish. However, adding starchy cooking water enhances the flavors and helps the sauce and other ingredients stick to the pasta. So, remember to reserve the pasta water.
Vegetables: If you add more vegetables, cook them with zucchini until soft. For green peas, boil them before adding to the pasta.
Cream: For this recipe, you can use light cream, half-and-half, table cream, or heavy cream. You can also add more cream to make the pasta creamier.