Brown Butter Zucchini Pasta

4.60 from 5 votes

This brown butter zucchini pasta is a very simple recipe and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Made without tomatoes, it is flavourful from the brown butter, herbs and garlic. Makes 3 generous portions.

Prep Time15

Cook Time40

Total Time55

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American, British, Italian

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 454kcal

Author: Claire

Ingredients

8 ounces spaghetti
3 medium zucchini grated
½ fennel finely diced
4 tablespoon butter
2 garlic cloves minced or finely diced
large handful basil leaves
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
salt
black pepper optional

Instructions

Boil the spaghetti according to packet instructions in salted water. Take off the heat and drain around a minute away from al dente. Reserve a cup of the pasta water.
Heat the butter on a low-medium heat. Once it begins to foam and lightly bubble add the garlic. After a minute or so, add the zucchini, fennel and a good pinch of salt. Cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes silky in texture. The zucchini will first release liquid, and then this will mostly evaporate.
Add the basil and thyme to the pan. Pour in ¼ cup of the pasta water, then add the spaghetti. Combine using tongs, adding more pasta water if required. Cook for a few more minutes then add a pinch of salt and pepper (if using), plate up and enjoy!

Notes

Heat the butter on a low to medium heat, not high. It should foam, slightly bubble and give off a nutty aroma. Add the garlic at that point, not before.
Add pasta water according to how dry the sauce is and to taste preference.
Swap out the pasta for your preferred variety if regular wheat pasta isn't suitable for you.
You can leave out the fennel if you prefer and have just zucchini.
This gives a fairly subtle flavour, for a 'bigger' flavour add more garlic and herbs to taste preference.
Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.

Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance

All ingredients score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:

pasta: wheat scores 1 and has a ? as a liberator.
garlic, which scores 1.
black pepper, which scores 2.

Nutrition