Pasta and Squash with Tomatoes, Basil, and Pine Nuts
By America's Test KitchenPublished on August 22, 2007
Yield
Serves 4 to 6 as a main dish
Ingredients
4 medium zucchini and/or summer squash (2 pounds), halved lengthwise and then cut crosswise into ½-inch pieceskosher salt 1 pound farfalle 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)½ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 pint grape tomatoes, each tomato halved½ cup firmly packed chopped fresh basil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until lightly browned and fragrant, about 4 minutesParmesan cheese for serving
Before You Begin
A combination of zucchini and summer squash makes for a nice mix of color, but either may be used exclusively if desired. Kosher salt works best for salting the squash because residual grains are easily wiped away. In order for this recipe to be gluten-free, you must use gluten-free pasta.
Instructions
- Toss zucchini and/or summer squash with 1 tablespoon kosher salt in medium bowl; transfer to large colander, set colander over bowl, and let stand 30 minutes. Spread squash evenly over double layer of paper towels; pat dry with additional paper towels and wipe off residual salt.
- Bring 4 quarts water to rolling boil, covered, in stockpot. Add 2 tablespoons kosher salt (or 1 tablespoon table salt) and pasta, stir to separate, and cook until al dente. Drain and return to stockpot.
- While pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just beginning to smoke; swirl to coat pan. Add half of squash and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and slightly charred, 5 to 7 minutes; transfer to baking sheet or large plate. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet, swirl to coat pan, and repeat with remaining squash. Return empty skillet to medium-high heat; add 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat pan. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Return squash to skillet and stir well to combine and heat through, about 30 seconds. Add squash mixture, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, and pine nuts to pasta in stockpot; toss to combine. Adjust seasonings, if necessary, and serve, passing Parmesan separately.
Yield
Serves 4 to 6 as a main dishIngredients
4 medium zucchini and/or summer squash (2 pounds), halved lengthwise and then cut crosswise into ½-inch pieces
kosher salt
1 pound farfalle
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pint grape tomatoes, each tomato halved
½ cup firmly packed chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
¼ cup pine nuts, toasted in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until lightly browned and fragrant, about 4 minutes
Parmesan cheese for serving
Ingredients
4 medium zucchini and/or summer squash (2 pounds), halved lengthwise and then cut crosswise into ½-inch pieces
kosher salt
1 pound farfalle
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pint grape tomatoes, each tomato halved
½ cup firmly packed chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
¼ cup pine nuts, toasted in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until lightly browned and fragrant, about 4 minutes
Parmesan cheese for serving
Ingredients
4 medium zucchini and/or summer squash (2 pounds), halved lengthwise and then cut crosswise into ½-inch pieces
kosher salt
1 pound farfalle
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pint grape tomatoes, each tomato halved
½ cup firmly packed chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
¼ cup pine nuts, toasted in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until lightly browned and fragrant, about 4 minutes
Parmesan cheese for serving
Why This Recipe Works
For a pasta and squash recipe that would marry the two ingredients in a light, flavorful way while avoiding blandness, we kept the skin on the squash to keep the pieces intact, then salted the squash to release excess liquid. We finished the sauce with an acid, such as balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, or red wine vinegar, to give it a kick and paired the sauce with farfalle to best trap the bits of flavor-packed ingredients.
Before You Begin
A combination of zucchini and summer squash makes for a nice mix of color, but either may be used exclusively if desired. Kosher salt works best for salting the squash because residual grains are easily wiped away. In order for this recipe to be gluten-free, you must use gluten-free pasta.
Instructions
- Toss zucchini and/or summer squash with 1 tablespoon kosher salt in medium bowl; transfer to large colander, set colander over bowl, and let stand 30 minutes. Spread squash evenly over double layer of paper towels; pat dry with additional paper towels and wipe off residual salt.
- Bring 4 quarts water to rolling boil, covered, in stockpot. Add 2 tablespoons kosher salt (or 1 tablespoon table salt) and pasta, stir to separate, and cook until al dente. Drain and return to stockpot.
- While pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just beginning to smoke; swirl to coat pan. Add half of squash and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and slightly charred, 5 to 7 minutes; transfer to baking sheet or large plate. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet, swirl to coat pan, and repeat with remaining squash. Return empty skillet to medium-high heat; add 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat pan. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Return squash to skillet and stir well to combine and heat through, about 30 seconds. Add squash mixture, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, and pine nuts to pasta in stockpot; toss to combine. Adjust seasonings, if necessary, and serve, passing Parmesan separately.
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