This is a quick, healthy vegetable pasta that’s easy to whip up in a pinch! It’s very flexible, so feel free to substitute the zucchini with just about any other fresh vegetable you have on hand or prefer.
Watch the Pasta Grammar video:
CREAM CHEESE, CHERRY TOMATO & ZUCCHINI PASTA RECIPE
Makes: 2 servings
Cook Time: 20 minutes
For this recipe, you will need:
2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
1 whole garlic clove, peeled
½ large zucchini, chopped
~15 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Salt
Fresh black pepper
5.5 ounces (155 g) rigatoni pasta
6 ounces (170 g) low-fat cream cheese (you can substitute with normal cream cheese, but will need to slightly increase the amount of water used in the sauce)
½ ounce (15 g) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste, plus extra for topping
Put a large pot of water on to boil. While it comes up to temp, you can begin the sauce.
Heat the olive oil and garlic clove in a large pan over medium heat until the garlic starts to sizzle. Add the zucchini and sauté for 1 minute, then add the cherry tomatoes and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté until the tomatoes have softened and released their juices, then remove and discard the garlic and turn off the heat. While the sauce cooks, you can boil the pasta.
When the water comes to a rolling boil, salt it generously and add the rigatoni. Set a timer for 2 to 3 minutes less than the recommended “al dente” cook time. Meanwhile, place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl and gradually stir in hot pasta water until you achieve a creamy sauce—it should be thin enough to coat the pasta but definitely not watery. Stir in the grated cheese and set the sauce aside for later.
When the pasta is ready, use a slotted spoon to transfer it into the sauce. Stir all together over medium/high heat, adding some pasta water as necessary to maintain moisture and a slight simmer in the pan, until the pasta is al dente to your taste.
Turn off the heat and stir in the cream cheese sauce. Serve immediately, topped with a grating of Parmigiano cheese.
Buon appetito!