Basil, Squash, and Tomato Pasta Toss
Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Grated zucchini will cook as the pasta is tossed. If you don't have a grater, cut the zucchini like the yellow squash, and sauté both.
How to Make It
Step 1
Bring stock, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons oil, and salt to a boil in a large skillet. Add pasta; cover and cook 10 minutes or until tender. Remove pasta to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
Step 2
Return cooking liquid to a boil; cook 13 minutes or until reduced to about 2/3 cup. Stir in 1/3 cup of the cheese; cook 1 minute, stirring until smooth.
Step 3
While sauce reduces, heat another skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil; swirl to coat. Add yellow squash; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cooking liquid, yellow squash, tomato, zucchini, and juice to pasta; toss. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and basil.
Light, summer entree easily made vegetarian
Made the recipe exactly as written with the exception of substituting a lemon liquor for lemon juice (discovered I lacked the original too late) and used "no chicken, chicken broth" to make the dish vegetarian. As this broth does not come salt free, I eliminated the additional 1/2 t. of salt. Very nice, delicately flavored dish which needs the basil in order to shine. Though the recipe didn't mention it, the leftovers were delicious eaten cold as a pasta salad,
Great alternative to traditional pasta salad.
For someone who does not like traditional pasta salads & potato salads, this was a wonderful dish for home or to take to a potluck! I added fresh basil and rosemary for extra flavor and left out tomatoes. I also just make this with zucchini and squash only, no pasta - just make zoodles.
Instant Classic
I've made this three times already. Cooking the pasta in the broth adds a lot of flavor. Yellow squash is hard to find around me for some reason, so I've used yellow bell peppers instead. Also added leftover grilled asparagus and broccoli. It's all good. Great dinner for summer. Will make it all year round for lunch.
Exceeded expectations
After reading the ingredients, I was worried this would be pretty bland. But it wasn't. My teenager doesn't usually like whole wheat pasta or squash or lemony dishes, but she declared this meal a winner. Super easy to. I really liked how the pasta was cooked and then the water/oil was reduced down to help form the sauce with that melted parmesan. Will definitely make again.
Disappointed