PREV
Craving a vibrant, summery pasta that’s ready in a flash? This 30-minute dinner is it. Sweet zucchini and corn are sautéed with garlic until golden and caramelized, then folded together with tender pasta and a lemony whipped ricotta that coats everything in its creamy goodness. It’s finished with a shower of salty parmesan cheese, a handful of nutty toasted pine nuts, and a sprinkle of fresh basil and mint. It all comes together super fast and is full of flavor, making it ideal for both busy weeknights and laid-back summer dinner parties.
Let’s Make It
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gemelli pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
While the pasta is cooking, add the ricotta cheese, olive oil, lemon zest, salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender.
Process until smooth and creamy, about 20 seconds. Set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini rounds and cook for 3-5 minutes undisturbed, then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown and caramelized.
Add in the corn kernels, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir together and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant. Turn off the heat.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with about 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water and the whipped ricotta mixture. Stir to combine, adding more pasta water if needed to thin out the sauce.
Divide the pasta among four serving plates. Garnish with grated parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, sliced basil, and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.
This recipe is so scrumptious! I received compliments from my book club members, husband and my 18-month old loved it! So good in the spring and summer
A keeper!! I honestly think this recipe doesn’t even need the pine nuts as a garnish, as the combo of ricotta, lemon, and heat is already such a perfect combo!
Without a doubt my favorite pasta ever. So delicious and so simple!!
I made this as a side for a group of twenty. I doubled it. It was delicious. I couldn’t find pine nuts at either of the grocery stores that I went to. So omitted them. I very rarely make any sort of pasta dish because my hubby doesn’t want to eat it so this was a big treat for me.
Made this for dinner tonight since my mom is visiting and she said she thinks it’s the best pasta she’s ever had
I love this recipe! It’s so creamy and satisfying. I added Cannellini Beans to add protein and fiber. It was delicious and my husband loved it too!
This was fantastic! Nice and light, good flavor, and great texture. Don’t skip the toasted pine nuts! I also added chicken for some protein and it was good.
Wow, so so yummy and an easy meal to make! Very freaking satisfying!
So so good! My zucchini got a tad overcooked so was a little mushier than we’d like, but it didn’t stop us from licking our plates clean.