Description
A delicious pasta dish featuring penne, fresh vegetables, and a creamy cheese sauce.
Ingredients
- 12 oz penne (sub farfalle or fusilli + salt for pasta water)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (grated)
- 2 cups mushrooms (button or cremini)
- 1½ cups asparagus (trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 medium zucchini (quartered lengthwise and sliced)
- 1 cup frozen peas (no need to thaw)
- 1 cup zucchini flowers (stem removed and gently torn – optional but lovely)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano (grated, sub Grana Padano or Parmesan)
- ¼ cup Pecorino Romano (grated, optional – sub more parmesan)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (juice is optional)
- 1 handful fresh herbs (choose basil, thyme, or parsley)
Instructions
Sauté the Vegetables: In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add ½ onion cooking for a couple of minutes until fragrant and soft. Add 2 cups mushrooms, 1½ cups asparagus, and 3 cloves garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook until they release moisture and start to brown (3 – 4 minutes) followed by 1 medium zucchini, cooking for a few more minutes. Stir in 1 cup frozen peas and cook until warmed through. Turn heat off, add 1 cup zucchini flowers trimming off their stem and folding them in gently to wilt slightly. Taste and adjust for salt.
Cook the Pasta: Cook 12 oz penne in a large pot of salted boiling water as per package instructions minus 1 minute. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
Add Pasta and Cheese: Add the cooked pasta and ¼ cup of reserved pasta water to the skillet with the vegetables over medium heat for 1 minute, stirring to combine. Off the heat, stir in ½ cup Greek yogurt, ½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano, ¼ cup Pecorino Romano, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest gently until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy. Add more pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Taste and season with salt, adding extra Parmesan if desired.
Serve Immediately: Plate and garnish with more cheese and 1 handful fresh herbs of choice.
Notes
- This recipe is versatile; feel free to substitute vegetables as per your preference.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
