Zucchini (courgette) and ricotta sauce

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Zucchini (courgette) and ricotta sauce

The pungency of the garlic and fresh flavour of the basil make this a delicious sauce. The zucchini that we use on our cooking courses in Tuscany are small and light green skinned.

  • Prep Time: 0 hours
  • Cook Time: 0 hours
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6

Ingredients

  • 8 medium-sized zucchini (around 750g, 1 1/2 lb)
  • 20 leaves or so of basil
  • 100 g (3 oz) good quality ricotta cheese (optional)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • Pasta quantities are very personal, but for a relatively heavy sauce such as this one, calculate 60-80 g/2-3 oz as a starter, or 140- 160 g/5-6 oz as a main course.owl, combine the pasta with the pasta sauce. Add a good swirl of raw olive oil and a little of the cooking water if necessary.
  • If you are using it, add the ricotta, little by little, mixing well (little clumps of ricotta are fine for a varied texture). Tear up the basil leaves and stir in too.

Instructions

  1. Cut the zucchini into relatively fine (2mm) discs.
  2. Heat a good swoosh of olive oil in a heavy-based frying pan and sauté the zucchini on a high heat, until some are very brown (almost burning!)
  3. Add the garlic, cook for 5 seconds and turn off the heat, continuing to stir so that the garlic infuses the dish but does not burn. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling water, salted just before you add the pasta. Cook it al dente (a good minute or two less than the packet instructions, until it is cooked but still firm to the bite).
  5. In a warmed bowl, combine the pasta with the pasta sauce. Add a good swirl of raw olive oil and a little of the cooking water if necessary.
  6. If you are using it, add the ricotta, little by little, mixing well (little clumps of ricotta are fine for a varied texture). Tear up the basil leaves and stir in too.

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