Zucchini Spaghetti alla Nerano

Name: Zucchini Spaghetti alla Nerano
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 12 oz spaghetti noodles, uncooked; 3 zucchini, thinly sliced with a food processor or mandoline; 1 cup olive oil; basil leaves; 3 ounces parmesan cheese, grated; 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced; pepper; salt

March 04, 2021

In his new CNN travel series “Searching for Italy”, renowned actor Stanley Tucci takes his audience on a tour of the finest food sites in Italy. In the first episode, the actor and his wife Felicity Blunt get a master class in a specific dish, a humble Zucchini pasta. This dish is prepared at a seaside hotel restaurant “Lo Scoglio” on the Amalfi Coast. Chef Tommaso de Simone shares little details that Blunt and Tucci have missed in their attempts to recreate the dish. For example, the fried zucchini is transfered to a refrigerator to soften before mixing with the pasta.

4 servings

10 mins

20 mins

30 mins

Ingredients

12 oz spaghetti noodles, uncooked
3 zucchini, thinly sliced with a food processor or mandoline
1 cup olive oil
basil leaves
3 ounces parmesan cheese, grated
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
pepper
salt

Equipment

Instructions

Slice ZucchiniThinly slice the zucchini using a mandoline or food processor. Lay on paper towels to dry and dust with a light sprinkling of sea salt.
Fry ZucchiniHeat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet for 1 minute, toss the sliced garlic in. When the garlic begins to sizzle add a layer of zucchini slices and allow to brown for about 3 minutes.
Drain ZucchiniDrain the zucchini on paper towels. You may need to fry the zucchini in several batches to prevent crowding the pan. Transfer the plate of zucchini on paper towels to the fridge while you prepare the pasta- this will allow the zucchini to soften slightly. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the frying oil and discard the rest. Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel.
Boil spaghettiBring a large pot of water to boil and prepare the spaghetti according to directions. You want the pasta to be extremely on the al dente side. Reserve 4 ladle fulls of the pasta water before draining.
Mix zucchini and basilAdd the cooled zucchini to the pasta water and allow to come to a low boil. Add the loose basil leaves, although save some for garnish. Stir for about 2 minutes.
Mix spaghetti.Combine the drained pasta in the skillet with the forming sauce and mix well on medium heat for about 1 minute. Turn off the heat and mix in the cheese, reserved zucchini oil, and 1 tablespoon of butter.
Garnish and serveServe immediately, with fresh pepper and basil leaves for garnish.