Go Back
+ servings

Easy Creamy Zucchini Pasta Sauce

A delicious creamy sauce packed with zucchini, parmesan cheese and lemon. A fresh summery pasta dish that the whole family will love.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Vegetarian
Cuisine Italian Inspired
Servings 2 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Box grater
  • tea towel or muslin cloth

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 medium zucchini see notes
  • ½ medium onion finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • ¾ cup cream
  • 50 grams parmesan finely grated
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Handful fresh basil leaves
  • Salt to taste
  • 200 grams dried pasta or 300 grams fresh

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the zucchini. Grate with a box grater then place in a tea towel or muslin cloth and squeeze as much water out as you can. After squeezing I had 440 grams of grated zucchini. A bit more or less is fine!
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet that will fit all the pasta on a medium heat and add the zucchini, onion and garlic.
  • Lower the heat, add a couple of big pinches of salt and gently cook down for 20 - 25 minutes until pretty much all of the moisture is gone and it is thick and jammy. Adjust your heat as needed, a low heat will be best.
  • Stir every couple of minutes and you know it is ready when it is sticking to the bottom of the pan. See video below or photos above for reference.
  • Remove the mixture from the pan and set aside in a bowl.
  • While zucchini is cooking, cook your pasta, reserving a cup of the pasta water before draining.
  • Add the cream to the empty pan the zucchini was in and bring to a very gentle simmer, it should never boil at any point so keep your heat low.
  • Add the finely grated parmesan in 2 - 3 separate lots, letting it melt in between each addition.
  • Add the black pepper and lemon juice and mix in quickly.
  • Add ¼ cup of pasta water and mix. Let it gently simmer for a minute or two to thicken slightly.
  • Add the zucchini mixture to the cream and mix in well then add your cooked pasta and toss well.
  • Season with salt to taste.
  • Let it very gently bubble away for a min or two and add another ¼ cup pasta water to loosen if needed.
  • Toss the basil leaves through right before serving and serve with lemon zest and extra parmesan on top.

Notes

I used three medium zucchini which together weighed about 730 grams. Try and get close to that weight but a bit more or less is fine. Just use 1 tablespoon if you don't want it really lemony. This is a generous 2 person size. I like to weigh my pasta portions, it takes 1 minute and ensures the perfect pasta to sauce ratio. I allow 100 grams dried per person or 150 grams fresh per person. Cream sauces thicken up SO quickly off the heat so I always like it to be extra saucy in the pan. This is where pasta water is key.

Nutrition

Serving: 1plateCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 12gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1000IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 250mgIron: 2mg
Keyword creamy zucchini pasta, summer pasta, zucchini pasta
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!