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Creamy Spaghetti with Ricotta, Zucchini and Basil

Find fresh ricotta, not the tubs of pasteurized cheese from the supermarket shelves, for this recipe: its lush creaminess is crucial to making a simple but ridiculously rich sauce for ribbons of tender zucchini and al dente pasta.Ingredients:1 pound spaghetti1 large zucchiniKosher salt1/2 cup basil leaves, cut into ribbons3 tablespoons olive oil1/2 pound fresh ricotta cheeseYield: 4 ServingsDirect
Creamy Spaghetti with Ricotta, Zucchini and Basil
Today

Find fresh ricotta, not the tubs of pasteurized cheese from the supermarket shelves, for this recipe: its lush creaminess is crucial to making a simple but ridiculously rich sauce for ribbons of tender zucchini and al dente pasta.

Creamy Spaghetti with Ricotta, Zucchini and Basil
Today

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • 1 large zucchini
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup basil leaves, cut into ribbons
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 pound fresh ricotta cheese

Yield: 4 Servings

Directions:

  • Fill a 6-quart stockpot with water, add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, and bring to a boil.
  • While the pasta water comes to a boil, rinse the zucchini and shred lengthwise into 1/8-inch ribbons with a mandoline or Japanese slicer. (Please use the hand guard or a cutproof glove when working with the sharp blades of a slicer for safety.)
  • Add the spaghetti to the boiling salted water and cook until al dente.
  • While the spaghetti cooks, heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet or sauté pan over medium heat, and add the zucchini. Sprinkle with a liberal pinch of kosher salt and stir to coat with the oil. Cook the zucchini for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender.
  • Scoop 1/4 cup pasta water from the stockpot and drain the spaghetti.
  • Add the spaghetti, basil, and ricotta to the skillet with the zucchini and toss lightly to combine. If the pasta is sticky, add the reserved water a splash at a time as needed.
  • Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

This recipe originally appeared on iVillage.