• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Closet Cooking

Cooking adventures in a small, closet sized, kitchen. - I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Top Recipes
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • 6 Ingredient Meals
    • Slow Cooker Meals
    • One Pan Meals
    • By Course
      • Main Course
      • Side Dish
      • Dessert
      • Appetizer/Snack
      • More
    • By Diet
      • Gluten-free
      • Low-carb
      • Vegetarian
      • More
    • By Meat
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Egg
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
      • More
    • By Cuisine
      • Cajun and Creole
      • Chinese
      • Greek
      • Italian
      • Japanese
      • Korean
      • Mexican
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
      • More
    • By Type
      • Burger
      • Cake
      • Cookie
      • Dip
      • Pasta
      • Pizza
      • Salad
      • Sandwich
      • Soup
      • More
    • By Ingredient
      • Avocado
      • Bacon
      • Cauliflower
      • Mushroom
      • Pumpkin
      • Quinoa
      • Shrimp
      • Strawberry
      • More
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
Never miss a recipe! Subscribe to the email Newsletter!

Zucchini Pistou Pasta

[heart_this] · Sep 9, 2010 · 27 Comments

Zucchini Pistou

With the vacation it has been almost three weeks since I last visited the local farmers market and I am really starting to miss it! No matter, the grocery stores are still full of local produce including lots of cheap zucchini and I knew just what I could use some for. This zucchini pistou recipe, originally from from Cooking Light, has been making its way around the food blogging sphere and it seemed a really nice way to enjoy some fresh zucchini. A pistou is similar to a pesto and since pestos can be made from many different ingredients, why not a zucchini pistou? I particularly like the way that this recipe includes zucchini in two different forms, both pureed in the pistou and sliced in the pasta for lots of zucchini goodness. For the pasta I went with penne noodles as whenever I make a zucchini pasta I like to cut the zucchini in roughly the same shape and size of the penne noodles. This zucchini pistou is really easy to make and a perfect way to use up some of your remaining zucchini!

Zucchini Pistou Pasta

Zucchini Pistou Pasta

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Servings: 4
ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 1/2 cups zucchini (cut roughly penne shaped)
  • 1 cup basil (packed)
  • 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts (toasted)
  • 1/2 lemon (juice)
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 1/2 pound pasta (I used whole wheat penne) (gluten free for gluten free)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
directions
  1. Heat the oil in a pan.
  2. Add the zucchini and saute until tender, about 5 minutes and set aside.
  3. Place 1/3 of the zucchini in a food processor along with the basil, parmigiano reggiano, garlic, pine nuts, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  4. Heat the oil in the pan.
  5. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
  6. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
  7. Add the remaining zucchini and set aside.
  8. Meanwhile cook the pasta as directed on the package reserving 1/3 cup of the pasta water when you drain it.
  9. Add the reserved pasta water to the food processor and puree it contents.
  10. Add the pistou to the pasta along with the zucchini and heavy cream and toss to coat.
  11. Serve garnished with parmigiano reggiano and pepper.
Similar Recipes:
Zucchini Carbonara
Pistachio Asparagus Pesto Pasta
Italian Sausage, Zucchini and Garlic Scape Pasta
Basil Pesto Pasta
Pesto Zucchini Noodles with Roasted Tomatoes and Grilled Chicken
Lemon Ricotta Zucchini Pasta

Food, Gluten-free, Italian, Main Course, Pasta, Recipe, Vegetarian

eCookbook Bundle Cover

Get ALL 16 Closet Cooking eCookbooks in a bundle for 70% off! Enjoy some of the tastiest recipes from Closet Cooking along with exclusive cookbook recipes!

Get the Cookbook Bundle Now!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Betty Ray says

    September 9, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    Mmmm, this looks delicious. I love me a good farmer's market. So easy to get carried away with them though.

    Reply
  2. Recipe for Delicious says

    September 9, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    I love it when you post a recipe that I have all the ingredients for. This looks great!

    Reply
  3. lakeviewer says

    September 10, 2010 at 12:44 am

    it sounds delicious! I like how it looks and how it comes together. Very healthy!

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    September 10, 2010 at 12:58 am

    mmm, I love anything with zucchini in it and it's nice to have alternatives to traditional pesto sauce.

    I cook in a small kitchen as well (the galley on a boat). It certainly has it's challenges as well as rewards!

    Reply
  5. Jessica - Sugar High says

    September 10, 2010 at 1:05 am

    Yum! What a great way to use up zucchini, it looks fantastic 🙂

    Reply
  6. We Are Not Martha says

    September 10, 2010 at 3:07 am

    I'm seeing so much zucchini all around the internet that I'm seriously craving it now! This is one of the best recipes yet! YUM 🙂

    Sues

    Reply
  7. The Girlie Blog says

    September 10, 2010 at 4:30 am

    looks delicious!

    Reply
  8. Les rêves d'une boulangère (Brittany) says

    September 10, 2010 at 6:31 am

    This looks delicious and fresh. I love zucchini

    Reply
  9. Joanne says

    September 10, 2010 at 10:16 am

    zucchini SQUARED! Exciting stuff.

    I've never had pistou before but I've heard of it and have always loved the concept. And right now, anything that has zucchini in it, sounds good to me!

    Reply
  10. Flyamanito says

    September 10, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    Hey, my GF and I just made this based on your posted recipe. Unreal. Prolly the best recipe we've tasted from here yet. Keep it up Kevin. We'll make some kimchi and bulgogi based on your guidance soon too I imagine.

    Reply
  11. jose manuel says

    September 10, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    Me encantan los calabacines, esto tiene que estar riquisimo.

    SAludos

    Reply
  12. Jan says

    September 10, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    This looks delish!

    Reply
  13. Megan says

    September 10, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    This looks delicious Keven. Another great recipe to use all that zuchinni!

    Reply
  14. Paula says

    September 10, 2010 at 3:09 pm

    I like a lot of green colour on my plate 🙂 yum

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    September 10, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    This sounds tasty, and like a great way to use all sorts of veggies – my question is, are there any vegetables that wouldn't work for a pistou?

    Becca

    Reply
  16. Laura Keller says

    September 10, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    This looks like a great new way to use all my zucchini! Thanks for posting another great recipe!

    Reply
  17. bellini valli says

    September 10, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    I have made this Cooking Light recipe and was more than happy with the results.

    Reply
  18. LimeCake says

    September 11, 2010 at 5:44 am

    this looks amazing! and healthy too.

    Reply
  19. patissierement-votre says

    September 11, 2010 at 6:49 am

    This looks like a delicious end of summer recipe

    Reply
  20. kelly says

    September 11, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    This sounds like such a perfect recipe. I have a couple of zucchini, but I've threatened to put them in muffins. Thinking I may change my mind now.

    Reply
  21. FABRIZIO says

    September 11, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    It seems tasty but if you ar interested in real italian way of life and italian cuisine, take a look at my blog http://italy-recipes.blogspot.com/ and, please tell me what do you think about it.
    Hi.

    Reply
  22. yummy supper says

    September 12, 2010 at 3:08 am

    I simply love zucchini in pasta! What a wonderful looking dish!
    Cheers
    -E

    Reply
  23. Kathryn says

    September 12, 2010 at 4:32 pm

    Looks and sounds delicious!

    I have tagged you to participate in the "love" game where you list 10 things you love and then tag 10 more people. For more info see my blog at http://craftsandcreationswithkathy.blogspot.com/2010/09/love-game-roster.html

    Have a great day!

    Reply
  24. Mindy says

    September 13, 2010 at 12:29 pm

    I love zucchini. This looks like a great way to try it! It seems we were both at IFBC- too bad we didn't connect, I'm also from Toronto and it would have been nice to meet you!

    Reply
  25. Jeanne @ CookSister.com says

    September 14, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    That looks fantastic – and recipes to use up zucchini at this time of year are always welcome!

    Reply
  26. eatme_delicious says

    September 22, 2010 at 6:06 pm

    Ooo this looks really good!

    Reply
  27. dining table says

    December 8, 2010 at 3:29 am

    This is really something so delicious. I would love to try this at home. Thanks a lot for sharing.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to the free Closet Cooking email newsletter and get a FREE copy of the eBook:
The Best of Closet Cooking!

About Me

Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
Read More

The Best of Closet Cooking 2023 – FREE eCookbook

The Best of Closet Cooking Book Cover

eCookbook Bundle

eCookbook Bundle

Top Recipes

Chicken and Avocado Burritos
Ham and Potato Corn Chowder
Mexican Street Corn Nachos
Balsamic Garlic Grilled Mushroom Skewers
Baked Firecracker Chicken
Caprese Balsamic Grilled Chicken
Balsamic Soy Roasted Garlic Mushrooms
Cheesy Beef Enchilada Tortellini Skillet
Parmesan Roasted Carrot Fries
Asiago Roasted Onions
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
About | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Copyright © 2007-2023, Closet Cooking Ltd. All Rights Reserved.