Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.
Ingredients
2 medium zucchini
½ lb rigatoni
1 tbsp olive oil
kosher salt
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp heavy cream
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 lemon, juiced
½ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
8 large basil leaves, torn
garnishes: freshly cracked black pepper, flaky sea salt, more parmesan
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a heaping pinch of salt. Meanwhile, trim the ends off each zucchini and cut them in half lengthwise. Use a mandolin to shave the zucchini thinly (use a knife to thinly slice the zucchini if you don’t have a mandolin).
Drop the rigatoni in the boiling water, stir well, and cook for 1 minute less than the package’s instructions.
Meanwhile, heat a 12” stainless steel pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Once hot, add the zucchini. Quickly sauté for a few minutes until caramelized and tender, stirring often. Season with a pinch of salt.
Stir in the butter and let melt. Add the heavy cream. Retrieve a ½ cup of starchy pasta water from the pot and add to the pan. Stir well and bring the liquid to a simmer. Simmer for a minute or so until starting to thicken.
Drain the rigatoni and immediately add it to the sauce. Stir continuously as you sprinkle in the parmesan cheese. Stir in the lemon juice. Continue to stir until the parmesan has melted and the sauce clings to the pasta.
Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl. Dollop the ricotta cheese over top. Garnish with the torn basil, freshly cracked black pepper, flakey sea salt, and more parmesan.
1 teaspoon table salt, plus salt for cooking pasta
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces bucatini
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
½ teaspoon pepper
2½ ounces mild provolone cheese, shredded (⅔ cup)
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Crushed pistachios
Directions
1. In large bowl, stir together zucchini, ¼ cup water, and salt. Cover and microwave until zucchini is softened (some slices will curl at edges) and liquid is released, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring halfway through microwaving. Drain zucchini in colander and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
2. Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add zucchini (do not wash colander) and spread into even layer. Cook, stirring every 4 minutes and then reflattening into even layer, until zucchini is very tender and about half of slices have browned, 10 to 12 minutes. (Zucchini can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)
3. Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 1½ cups cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot.
4. Add 1 cup reserved cooking water, zucchini, butter, basil, and pepper to pasta. Set pot over low heat and cook, stirring and tossing pasta constantly, until ingredients are evenly distributed and butter is melted, about 1 minute. Off heat, add provolone and Parmesan. Stir vigorously until cheeses are melted and pasta is coated in creamy, lightly thickened sauce, about 1 minute, adjusting consistency with remaining reserved cooking water as needed.
5. Transfer pasta to platter and serve immediately and top with crushed pistachios, lemon squeeze and sprinkled Parmesan cheese.
