Creamy Zucchini and Stracchino Pasta with Crispy Pancetta
A delicious creamy zucchini pasta made with basil, garlic, the dreamiest Italian soft cheese (Stracchino) and topped with crispy pancetta. This recipe is really easy and full of flavour, ready in just 30 minutes.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) Paccheri pasta (or pasta of choice)
- 2 zucchini (courgettes)
- 1/2 cup (110g) Italian Stracchino cheese
- 1 Garlic clove finely chopped
- 3.5 oz (100g) Pancetta cut into cubes or matchsticks
- 1 oz (30g or 1/2 cup) Parmigiano Reggiano finely grated
- Large handful fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons of water
- Olive oil
- Salt
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it well. Wash and cut the zucchini into quarters lengthwise, then chop it into small pieces.
- Heat a large pan on a medium-low heat and add the cubed pancetta. Fry the pancetta for a few minutes until slightly golden then remove it with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Add the chopped zucchini to the pan (there should be enough fat from the pancetta but if not, add a drizzle of olive oil). Add the garlic and a sprinkle of salt and saute for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water to the zucchini and cover it with a lid. Turn the heat to medium and let the zucchini cook for 5-7 minutes until softened.
- Add your pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente.
- When the zucchini is cooked, add it to a blender or food processor with the fresh basil, stracchino cheese, parmigiano reggiano and blitz to a smooth sauce.
- Add the pureed sauce back to the pan (off the heat). When your pasta is ready transfer it to the pan and toss it in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick you can add a splash of pasta water and turn the heat on briefly to emulsify the sauce.
- Serve in bowls topped with crispy pancetta.
Notes
- Storage - leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Prep ahead - you can make the sauce in advance and store it in the fridge until needed. You may want to warm the pancetta up in a pan for a fresher flavour if you’ve prepped that in advance too.
- Stracchino alternative - Crescenza is another name for stracchino and another one to look out for. Squacquerone is another similar cheese. If you can find any of those, then a good cream cheese will work or burrata, although it will have a milder flavour.
Nutrition
Calories: 672kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 563mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg
