This mashup offers the best of both worlds: zucchini noodles add a unique lightness and fun contrast in texture, and traditional pasta adds a comforting warmth that completes this satisfying dish!
Blistered cherry tomatoes and a creamy cheese sauce tie it all together! This recipe is super easy to adapt based on whatever veggies you have in your fridge and these quick modifications can take your lunch to the next level.
(also happy new year! :))
Ingredients:
3 garlic cloves
1 zucchini, ribboned with a vegetable peeler
Few handfuls of cherry tomatoes
Spaghetti pasta
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup milk or non-dairy milk
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese to garnish
Salt and white pepper to taste
Directions:
(Prep) Boil water, and a big pinch of salt to season, and cool spaghetti until al dente.
Run a vegetable peeler along the side of the zucchini to form long ribbons. Cut cherry tomatoes in half.
Heat a pan on high heat and add cherry tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes blister (they'll be soft and the bottoms should be golden brown and slightly caramelized). Reserve tomatoes on the side.
Add the zucchini noodles and saute for a few minutes to soften them. Season with salt and white pepper
(Sauce) Add flour and olive oil to the pan and cook for a few minutes until it darkens in color a bit (this roux will thicken the sauce!). Slowly whisk in the milk and keep whisking until the sauce thickens. Add in the mozzarella cheese and whisk until smooth.
Add in the spaghetti, cooked zucchini noodles, and blistered tomatoes and mix until combined. Season to taste and add a bit of leftover pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
Garnish with some parmesan cheese while the pasta is still hot. Then you're ready to enjoy!
Notes:
Blistering tomatoes (heating them on a pan until they burst) is a great way to cut down on the acidity of raw tomatoes and add extra sweetness and flavor. I like adding these to salads as well!
I found that the similar shape of spaghetti and zucchini noodles adds to the dish, but any pasta shape will work
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