Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca)
Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca) pairs tender squash flowers with fragrant saffron, garlic, and parsley for a golden, aromatic sauce. A touch of cornmeal gives gentle body, while Parmesan adds a nutty finish. Serve this elegant pasta for a light dinner or a special weekend lunch when fresh blossoms are in season.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 45 / 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.
- 50
- Heart Health
- 61
- Metabolic
- 18
- Digestive
- 25
- Inflammatory
- 23
- Performance
- 30
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook, stirring now and then, until tender but still slightly firm, about 11 minutes. Drain, saving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
- 2
Clean and rinse the zucchini blossoms, removing the inner parts (stigma or anthers); coarsely chop the flowers.
- 3
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook and stir the garlic in the hot oil until it starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the reserved pasta water, parsley, and saffron until combined. Add the zucchini blossoms and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle in the cornmeal; stir constantly until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Gently fold the penne into the zucchini blossom mixture and top with Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
- Calories 192.42 kcal Moderate 10%
- Protein 5.97 g Moderate 12%
- Carbohydrate 25.49 g 9%
- Total Fat 8.03 g Moderate 10%
- Saturated Fat 1.46 g Moderate 7%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 2.73 mg Low Source 1%
- Sodium 57.03 mg Low Source 2%
- Dietary Fiber 1.57 g Low Source 6%
- Total Sugars 1.04 g --
- Added Sugars 0.05 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 43.16 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 0.79 mg Low Source 4%
- Potassium 59.58 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 16.07 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 6.53 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca) is made with 8 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Cornmeal, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Parsley, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 192.42 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca) made of?
- The main ingredients are Cornmeal, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Parsley, Garlic, Grated Parmesan Cheese. The full list of 8 is above.
- How long does it take to make Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca)?
- About 50 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 192.42 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 8 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca) healthy?
- Penne with Zucchini Blossoms (Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca) has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 192.42 calories and 5.97 g of protein, or 12% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 1.46 g (7% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Corn 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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