Description
Spaghetti Alla Nerano is a traditional Italian pasta dish featuring fried zucchini, fresh basil, and parmesan cheese to create a creamy, flavorful sauce that perfectly coats al dente spaghetti. This comforting and simple recipe highlights the fresh taste of zucchini with a luxurious cheesy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Oils
- ½ quart sunflower oil (or vegetable oil, 2 cups)
- 6 medium zucchini (thinly sliced, about 2 1/2 pounds)
- 1 cup chopped fresh basil
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 cups grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat the Oil: Add the sunflower oil to a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat to prepare for frying the zucchini.
- Fry the Zucchini: Fry the thinly sliced zucchini in the hot oil until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove them carefully with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Combine Zucchini and Basil: Mix the fried zucchini with the chopped fresh basil and salt to taste. Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil and set aside.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Before draining, reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water to use in the sauce.
- Toss Pasta with Zucchini: Add the drained pasta to a large skillet over medium-low heat. Toss the pasta with the fried zucchini mixture, gradually adding the reserved pasta cooking liquid until the sauce develops a creamy consistency.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Stir in the grated parmesan cheese while continuing to toss the pasta, ensuring it becomes coated with the zucchini and cheese, creating a rich, creamy sauce. Adjust salt to taste.
- Serve: Drizzle with additional olive oil and serve the dish with extra parmesan cheese on the side for more flavor if desired.
Notes
- The fried zucchini can be prepared up to 5 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator to save time.
- Use extra virgin olive oil for drizzling to enhance the flavor and add a fruity richness.
- Be sure to reserve sufficient pasta water as it helps create the creamy sauce without adding cream.
- Fresh basil is essential for the authentic taste; substitute with dried basil only if fresh is unavailable, though fresh is highly recommended.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
