Light, fresh, and weeknight-easy, my zucchini and pea pasta is packed with bright spring flavor, ready in 30 minutes or less. Perfect as a main course or to serve alongside your favorite chicken, beef or shrimp dish. Serves 4.
Everyone needs a light and zippy pasta dish in their home-cooked repertoire and this pasta with zucchini and peas is my answer.
Twirls of rotini pasta are tossed with cubes of golden pancetta, leeks (my all time favorite veggie), zucchini, and homemade Italian chicken stock to create a silky sauce.
A handful of fresh peas, which are 100% worth grabbing when in season, adds brightness and texture. You can find fresh peas at Trader Joe’s year round. But frozen peas will work too!
To keep it balanced, I use more veggies than pasta and have played around using small shells, ditalini and orecchiette pasta- they all work!
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Spring Zucchini Pasta With Pancetta
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Light, fresh, and weeknight-easy, my zucchini and pea pasta is packed with bright spring flavor, ready in 30 minutes or less. Perfect as a main course or to serve alongside your favorite chicken, beef or shrimp dish. It’s lovely at room temperature too!
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rotini pasta*
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced pancetta
- 1 cup thinly sliced leeks, white and light green part only
- 1 1/2 cup thinly sliced zucchini
- 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
- 1/4 cup chicken stock (I use my homemade Italian chicken brodo)
- 1tbsp butter
- good handful of parmesan cheese
- coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
*1 cup of dry, uncooked pasta yields about 2 cups cooked pasta.
Instructions
- If you’re using dry pasta, go ahead and prepare it according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta and sauté until lightly golden, about 3-5 minutes.
- Throw in the leeks and cook until they start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and continue to cook for another 3 minutes or so. Season with salt and pepper.
- Now add your pasta to the pan. Pour in the chicken stock, butter, and a good handful of parmesan cheese. Stir well until the liquid starts to thicken. Add the peas.
- To serve, pile the pasta onto a giant platter or into a nice serving bowl.
- Garnish with extra parmesan on the side.
Comments
AH says
Yum! Super quick and easy, fresh flavor. Was a hit with my toddler!
Annalise says
I’ve been looking through your recipes since I happened upon your sourdough post (I’m growing my first starter!) and your photos are recipes all look so delicious. I can’t wait to try them.
Cathy says
Made this for dinner last night and thoroughly enjoyed the flavors. I added a pinch of red pepper flakes, will definitely make again and so easy to make when you get home from work.
Emilie says
That’s fantastic Cathy! Love the red paper flakes too- great addition. Glad this was a stress free meal! :)
kristie {birch and wild} says
A gorgeous, fresh dish. I love this. My husband is a carnivore, and I ma not, but we have made it work. We have a deal though, if he wants to eat ribs or chicken wings, I go in the other room :) And if I want to spiralize all veggies and use them as pasta, I am on my own. It is working out great!
Katie says
Emilie! Made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing such an awesome recipe. :)
Shannon says
This recipe is a gem! Just the thing I’m craving at the moment, too. I love it so much, it made my “On My Radar: April 2015” post. :) Thanks for the inspiration for a taste of Italia! http://www.cameraandcarryon.com/radar-april-2015/
francesca says
1. I voted for you! congrats, and yay!
2. half the pasta – double the veg. I wrote this down. It’s genius.
3. mini-zucchini, nothing could be cuter.
I make stuff like this in a pinch or for comfort – i always add a squeeze of lemon, too!
Emilie says
Francesca! THANK YOU SO MUCH. You are awesome. Yes- the pasta trick is amazing. I do it all the time and I promise no one suspects a thing. And I found the mini zucchini at the market recently. They are sweet and not very watery, which is nice. But they cook fast! I hope you can find some, although regular zucchini will work out just fine too.
Yes please to lemon! I’m the same way (just wait till Thursday’s post!) xoxo
Pam Green says
Those fresh peas look so big and delicious!
Emilie says
Pam, they’re absolutely delicious. So fresh and have a great bite to them!
Renata Moreti says
Hi, Emilie! Found your blog through Saveur shortlist and you totally got me. So many amazing recipes, real food, beautiful pics and such a nice text! :-) You have one more fan! Keep the great job! Love from Brazil!
Emilie says
Welcome Renata! So happy to have you here! I just got back form the gym and your comment made me smile- thank you for your sweet words :)
Sini says
Simple spring pasta dishes are the best! Love the look and sound of this one. We still have to wait for fresh, local peas up here in the north (like at least till late May/early June!), but I’m sure this would work with frozen peas as well.
Emilie says
I agree. It’s so nice to have fresh produce again. I will stuff myself with peas and zucchini until the next thing (hello, tomatoes!). And yes, frozen peas would be just fine :)
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
Hahhaa, pack of wolves! I’d be hanging out near the pasta and veggies with you, Emilie! I love the simple idea of less pasta and more veggies.. so simple, yet intentional. The peas… yes! They’ll be showing up at farmers markets here soon and I am soooo looking forward to them! I think they’re amazing, although I do use frozen too because they are really good for frozen! Co-existing with Rob in the kitchen…. he is a carnivore, although only when we go out and only occasionally. He used to say my food was gourmet (really, it’s not, just fresh ingredients) and not regular (his word). But since I do all the cooking in the house, he has come to like my cooking more and more and is sweet enough to try things not regular and give me feedback (hehe). I did convert him to the green side of green smoothies and now he complains if he misses his morning green! A slow evolution :D
I love this pasta Emilie! The leeks, veggies and simple sauce. The freshness and flavor sound so inviting and is making me crave pasta with peas!! I just found a bag in my freezer! Thank you for this! Have a lovely weekend, Emilie!
Jennifer @ Delicious Everyday says
What a beautiful pasta recipe!
Betty | le jus d'orange says
Oh my, the way you describe rotini is so perfect! I never considered WHY I loved rotini, but you lay it out so perfectly. Gorgeous spring pasta <3.
Emilie says
Haha.. this made me laugh. I was telling my mom about your comment and we both agreed- as you’ve mentioned, we’re naturally attracted to certain pasta shapes but it’s really hard to describe why. In addition to rotini, I love small shells, pastina and mini penne- they remind me of my childhood.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
This is such a pretty pasta for spring! And yes, it’s astonishing how much meat men can put away!
Emilie says
Thank you! And yes, tell me about it. And my boys are little… wait until they grow up!
Valentina @Hortus says
I can so relate to this post! :) I am always the one making or getting a huge pot of veggies while everyone has steak or pork. I also love to make veggies with pasta rather than pasta with veggies. Well, what to say, this looks gorgeous! There will come a time when boys might even consider eating their salad :)
Emilie says
Yes! Someone needs to balance things out. I think if we make veggies often enough, they will finally cave in. They have to! I personally love veggies and can’t imagine life without them. Sounds dramatic, but true. Same goes for pasta ;)
Ruby88 says
That’s too funny with the steak. Bet the kids also go after the pasta minus the veggies. Love the simple and beautiful photo
Emilie says
They do! In fact, the rotini I used was their leftover dinner from the other night. Waste not, want not. One day they will eat all things green! I think… ;)
Laney (Ortensia Blu) says
Great light, spring pasta! Nice side dish to a thick, juicy steal :)
Emilie says
Haha, yes. My husband actually really liked the pasta dish and he’s not a pasta person at all! When we first met, he was astounded at the amount of pasta our family ate. I told him it was a major food group, obviously ;)
Amanda Jane says
Looks so like and perfect for Spring! Beautiful :)
Emilie says
Thank you Amanda Jane! Enjoy that beautiful Florida sunshine! xoxo
Tory says
i love seeing all the spring pasta dishes going around! i love a big hearty bowl of pasta, but i love pasta and green vegetables equally and it’s such a welcome change right now. gotta go get some fresh peas!!
Emilie says
Hi Tory! They are SO delicious. I’m a fan of frozen too, but these little guys are special. Anything in season right now seems special. I’m so happy Spring is finally here! Have a great weekend :)