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Stanley Tucci’s Decadent Zucchini Pasta Recipe

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Stanley Tucci’s zucchini pasta is a simple yet indulgent Italian main course featuring crispy fried zucchini combined with al dente spaghetti. The starchy pasta water, Parmesan cheese, and butter blend to create a silky, luscious sauce that perfectly coats the noodles, finished with fresh basil for brightness.

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Frying

  • Sunflower oil for frying (about ½ to 1 quart)
  • 6 medium zucchini
  • Kosher salt, to taste

Pasta & Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 16 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 bunch fresh basil leaves

Instructions

  1. Heat the Oil: In a heavy bottom pot, heat ½ to 1 quart of sunflower oil to 350°F for frying.
  2. Slice and Fry Zucchini: Slice zucchini into thin rounds. Fry in batches in the hot oil until blistered and golden, about 5-7 minutes per batch. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
  3. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
  4. Prepare Sauce Base: In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Add the rested fried zucchini and 2 ladles of warm pasta water, stirring well to create a saucy mixture. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  5. Toss Pasta and Sauce: Add drained spaghetti to the pan with zucchini. Toss well to combine. Remove from heat and add a couple handfuls of grated Parmesan cheese, tossing to blend.
  6. Enrich Sauce: Stir in butter and add more pasta water as needed to achieve a rich, silky sauce coating the noodles.
  7. Garnish and Serve: Add extra Parmesan cheese and top with fresh basil leaves before serving.

Notes

  • Frying the zucchini ahead of time and refrigerating allows flavors to develop and makes the cooking process faster when assembling the pasta.
  • Be sure to reserve pasta water as it contains starch that helps emulsify and thicken the sauce.
  • Adjust the amount of pasta water to get a smooth, creamy sauce consistency.
  • This dish can be made with either spaghetti or linguine based on preference.
  • Fresh basil adds a bright, herbaceous finish but can be omitted or substituted with parsley if needed.
  • Author: Daisy
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Italian

Find it online: https://dishiary.com/stanley-tuccis-decadent-zucchini-pasta-recipe/