Description
A vibrant and fresh pasta dish perfect for summer, featuring seasonal vegetables and a light olive oil dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces of penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced
- 1 medium yellow squash, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup of fresh spinach
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until it becomes translucent.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the zucchini, yellow squash, and red bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp.
- Stir in the cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach, cooking for another 2-3 minutes until the spinach wilts.
- Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet, along with the reserved pasta water, dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Toss again to combine.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
- For a creamier version, add 1/2 cup of heavy cream or a splash of pasta cooking water to the skillet before mixing in the cheese.
- To make it a protein-packed meal, add grilled chicken or shrimp to the dish before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 5mg