This vibrant pasta dish is a perfect choice for warm summer days, featuring a combination of tender courgettes and a refreshing tomato salsa. Drawing inspiration from traditional Italian cuisine, it treats pasta as a salad, mixing it gently with vegetables, herbs, and olive oil to create a light and colorful meal.
The recipe is built around the contrast between two main components: soft courgettes and spring onions sautéed in olive oil, and a room-temperature salsa made with ripe tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Allowing the tomatoes to sit for at least 20 minutes releases their juices, enhancing the overall flavor of the dish.
A variety of tomatoes, including cherry and firmer types, contribute both sweetness and texture, while smaller courgettes are recommended for their subtle flavor. Fresh basil adds a fragrant touch to the final dish. This pasta recipe accommodates both long and short pasta shapes, such as linguine, spaghetti, farfalle, and radiatori, all capable of soaking up the rich dressing. Using a bit of starchy pasta water while cooking the vegetables helps create a silky sauce that evenly coats the pasta.
To prepare, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 450g of your chosen pasta according to package instructions. In a bowl, combine 400g of diced ripe tomatoes with three tablespoons of olive oil, a handful of torn basil leaves, a pinch of dried oregano, half a finely chopped garlic clove, and salt to taste, then let the mixture rest. Heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan, gently cooking three to four finely sliced spring onions until soft. Add two large courgettes, grated or sliced into thin strips, and cook for about five minutes, adding a little pasta water to soften the vegetables without browning them.
Transfer the cooked pasta directly into the pan, tossing it well to coat it in the courgette mixture. Add the tomato salsa and mix thoroughly. Garnish with extra basil before serving. This refreshing pasta recipe captures the essence of summer and can be enjoyed on its own or with soft cheeses like ricotta or mozzarella.