A 6 ingredient supper for you! Creamy courgette pasta that is hearty, delicious and full of goodness too. You can have this one on the table in the time it takes to cook the pasta, which makes it a quick, weeknight staple that also has a certain level of indulgence that everyone will love. This recipe marries the mellow flavour of summer courgettes with a luscious, creamy sauce to produce a plate of pasta that’s both comforting and fresh.

Vegetarian goodness: how to spin the dish

This is a vegetarian courgette pasta, inspired loosely by the pasta made famous by Stanley Tucci in his famous series Searching For Italy, also known as Spaghetti Alla Nerano. However, that pasta does take a certain amount of time and as delicious as it is, it involves frying thinly sliced courgettes in batches, and for a weeknight meal, who has the time?

You could bump up this recipe with some grilled or pan-fried chicken stirred in or more veggies, such as a handful of peas. Use this recipe as a base and riff off it to make it the best meal you can!

The Beauty of Courgettes

Courgettes, also known as zucchinis, are at their peak in the summer months. These versatile vegetables are a fantastic addition to a wide range of dishes, and their mild, slightly nutty flavour pairs wonderfully with pasta. Courgettes are low in calories and rich in essential nutrients, making them a perfect choice for your summer meals, or at any time of year.

The tender courgettes, crème fraiche and nutty Parmesan cheese come together to create a pasta that’s rich, yet still light enough to enjoy on a warm summer evening. It’s a fantastic way to make the most of fresh summer produce while satisfying your cravings for a creamy, comforting meal.

Why grate courgette?

For easy prep and also for speed, this recipe calls for grated courgette. Here are a few hacks for this:

Choose the Right Grater: There are different types of graters available, such as box graters, microplane graters etc. Whereas for the parmesan, a microplane grater is ideal, for the courgette, use a wide-holed grater, typically found within a box grater.

Prep Your Vegetables: Wash the courgette first, it can often have a fuzziness to it or it might be a bit dirty and you don’t want that in the final dish!

Safety First: When using a box grater, be cautious of your fingers. It’s a good idea to leave a small end of the vegetable ungrated and then you can just finely chop the end of it, to avoid any cuts or injuries!

Use a Bowl or Plate: Grate your vegetables onto a clean plate or into a bowl. This makes it easier to transfer the grated vegetables to your recipe and reduces mess.