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Zucchini Noodles with Jambon de Bayonne (Bayonne Ham) and Summer Veggies | Umami Girl-9
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5 from 5 votes

Summer Zucchini Pasta

This summer zucchini pasta is bursting with both seasonal produce and savory flavors. You can make it with zoodles or with regular pasta.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Additional Time15 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Zucchini
Cuisine: American
Keyword: summer zucchini pasta
Calories: 355kcal
Author: Carolyn Gratzer Cope

Ingredients

  • 6 medium zucchini about 2 pounds/(907 grams) total
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
  • 1 large shallot minced (about ½ cup)
  • 4 medium garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 tablespoons (30 grams) capers
  • 4 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 2 medium ears fresh corn or 6 ounces/(170 grams) frozen kernels
  • 1 15.5- ounce 439-gram can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 4 ounces (113 grams) sliced prosciutto
  • ½ cup (15 grams) fresh basil leaves, torn
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ cup (40 grams) grated parmesan or pecorino cheese

Instructions

  • Trim the ends off the zucchini and cut into noodles according to the instructions on your spiralizer.
  • Line two rimmed sheet pans with thick layers of paper towels. Spread half of the zucchini noodles onto each pan and sprinkle with the salt. Cover with another thick layer of paper towels and press gently. Leave noodles to dry while you prepare the rest of the dish.
  • Warm olive oil over medium heat in a very large pan or wide, shallow pot. (A 5-quart Dutch oven, a 12-inch frying pan with high sides, or even a wok would all work well.)
  • Add shallot, garlic, and capers, and cook, stirring frequently, for two minutes.
  • Stir in tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of them have burst. 
  • While tomatoes cook, cut the kernels from the corn cobs. Add corn kernels and chickpeas to pan and cook for about two minutes, until warmed through.
  • Pat zucchini noodles dry with the paper towels and stir noodles into the vegetable mixture in the pan. (Tongs work really well if you have them.) Cook until noodles are crisp-tender, just a couple of minutes. The tomatoes and zucchini will create a bit of delicious sauciness in the bottom of the pan. Stir this to coat the noodles.
  • Remove pan from heat.
  • Cut slices of prosciutto into long, thin strips, about four per slice. Sprinkle it over the vegetables, along with the basil, pepper, and grated cheese. The residual heat from the noodles will warm the prosciutto just enough to be beautifully tender and flavorful, without cooking it. 
  • Divide among wide, shallow serving bowls to serve.

Notes

  1. You can use any zucchini or yellow summer squash that you have. I prefer to buy zucchini on the smaller side since they're a bit sweeter and more tender before they get too big. Smaller, straighter zucchini are also a little bit easier to spiralize. The six medium zucchini called for in this recipe weigh about two pounds and yield about nine cups raw zoodles. If you'd prefer to use regular pasta, you've got a couple of options. Try a combination of spaghetti and half the amount of zoodles indicated, or include just two zucchini thinly sliced into half-moons and sautéed along with the shallot and garlic, plus any shape of regular pasta that you like.
  2. Fresh corn is my favorite choice for this summery recipe, but you can use good-quality frozen corn if that's what you've got. The two ears called for in the recipe equal about six ounces frozen corn kernels.
  3. You can use any small variety of tomatoes. I love to use multicolored cherry or grape tomatoes to help make this dish rainbow-hued.
  4. Use capers in brine for this recipe. As compared to salt-packed capers, they're less — though still plenty — salty and more vinegary. Drain before using.
  5. I'm always a fan of good-quality meat, but you do not need the absolute most perfect prosciutto for this recipe. Since it will , some of the nuances will disappear. A good domestic product is perfectly fine and will save you money.
  6. Choose a good-quality, freshly grated parmesan cheese. It adds a ton of savoriness and even a touch of sweetness. For a dairy-free version, you can omit it.
  7. You can prepare the zoodles in advance through the drying stage and store the whole paper towel bundle in a zip-top bag in the fridge for up to a week. If you like, you can also start the sauce well ahead of time, through the cooking of the tomatoes, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. I'd recommend finishing the recipe from there shortly before serving for maximum freshness.
  8. That said, leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for a week.

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.9g | Protein: 21.5g | Fat: 14.9g | Fiber: 10.9g