Browned Zucchini Pasta with Parmesan
This pasta features grated zucchini cooked until deeply browned and meltingly soft, forming a creamy sauce with garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, and pasta water. Red pepper flakes add gentle heat, while lemon zest and fresh basil can brighten the rich, cheesy finish. It is a comforting summer dinner and a practical way to use an abundance of zucchini.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Browned Zucchini Pasta with Parmesan, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 12 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 52 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 44
- Heart Health
- 73
- Metabolic
- 46
- Digestive
- 26
- Inflammatory
- 36
- Performance
- 41
- General Wellness
- 1
Gather all ingredients.
- 2
Heat olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium heat. When warm, add garlic and red pepper flakes and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add zucchini and season with salt and cracked black pepper. You may have to add zucchini in batches if it doesn't all fit in the pan.
- 3
Stir every few minutes until the zucchini softens and releases its liquid, 5 to 10 minutes. Continue to cook until the liquid evaporates and the zucchini starts to brown, 10 to 15 minutes more.
- 4
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta for 1 to 2 minutes less than the package states for al dente pasta. Reserve pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- 5
Turn the heat under the skillet to medium-low and stir the zucchini frequently during the final 5 to 10 minutes of cooking. As the zucchini caramelizes, it may start to stick to the bottom of the pan. Loosen it by adding more olive oil or water; use a wooden spoon to release the browned bits, or fond, from the bottom of the pan. The zucchini is done when it starts to clump together and looks darkened and slightly browned.
- 6
Turn the heat down to low and add the pasta to the skillet along with pasta water; stir to combine. Add the cheese slowly, stirring and adding pasta water as needed if the mixture gets too thick. When the cheese is well incorporated, add the butter and stir until glossy and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- 7
Garnish with black pepper, more cheese, lemon zest, and chopped fresh basil.
- Calories 654.99 kcal High 33%
- Protein 27.72 g Good Source 55%
- Carbohydrate 88.15 g 32%
- Total Fat 21.64 g High 28%
- Saturated Fat 7.26 g High 36%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 31.67 mg Moderate 11%
- Sodium 251.32 mg Moderate 11%
- Dietary Fiber 6.31 g Good Source 23%
- Total Sugars 6.96 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 351.44 mg Good Source 27%
- Iron 4.51 mg Good Source 25%
- Potassium 370.82 mg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin A 75.8 mcg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin C 9.94 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Browned Zucchini Pasta with Parmesan is made with 13 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Butter, Fresh Basil, and Fusilli Pasta. Each serving provides about 654.99 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Browned Zucchini Pasta with Parmesan made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Butter, Fresh Basil, Fusilli Pasta, Garlic. The full list of 13 is above.
- How long does it take to make Browned Zucchini Pasta with Parmesan?
- About 50 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 654.99 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Browned Zucchini Pasta with Parmesan easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 13 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Browned Zucchini Pasta with Parmesan healthy?
- Browned Zucchini Pasta with Parmesan has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 654.99 calories and 27.72 g of protein, or 55% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 251.32 mg (11% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.26 g (36% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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