Pasta primavera is the perfect springtime dish. This delectable main course is loaded with veggies and can be customized to your liking. Made with minimal ingredients, this dish is quick and easy to whip up.
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Quick and Easy Pasta Primavera
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 small onion
- 1 zucchini
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 cloves of garlic
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 2 cups dry pasta (penne or fusilli)
- ¼ cup pasta water *See notes
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add pasta of choice and cook until preferred consistency. Remove ¼ of the pasta water, drain the pasta, and set it aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet on medium heat. Add the oil and onions to the skillet and cook for approximately 5 minutes, or until the onion starts to become more transparent.
- Add the zucchini to the skillet, stir, and let it cook for about 3–5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet, stir, and let it cook for 10-15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Squish the tomatoes in the skillet so some of the juice comes out. This will add more flavour. Add in the garlic for the last 5 minutes of the cook time.
- After the tomatoes have cooked for a while, add salt and pepper to taste, as well as the Italian seasoning. Mix well, and then add the pasta water. Start off with a small amount and then keep adding pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and mix well until the noodles are coated and the veggies are mixed in well. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Spring is finally upon us. If you’re unfamiliar with the hockey land of the north or you haven’t read through the FAQ section on the homepage, let me explain what spring time means in Canada.
The snow is finally melting, but we still keep a snowbrush in our cars in case we get that annual surprise blizzard at the end of April. Our polar bear friends are hitting up the LCBO before they hibernate for the summer. They need their energy for November so they can trek through the snow again and be our main source of transportation.
Springtime is a magical time up here, and it’s refreshing to see sunlight after months of pure darkness and never-ending snow. Anyways, let’s jump into some tips and tricks for this awesome springtime pasta!
Tips and Tricks for Pasta Primavera
Use Short Pasta
Now is not the time to “go big or go home”. I tried this recipe with spaghetti noodles, and it just wasn’t the same. If it’s all you have on hand, it’ll work. It’s best to use short pasta like penne, ziti, bowties, or fusilli.
Experiment With Different Veggies
Here’s a list of veggies that go well with pasta primavera. Mix and match to your heart’s content. Personally, I’d keep the tomatoes because I found the juices added extra flavour. Below, is a small list to get the gears rolling. If you’d like to get really fancy, here’s a huge list of vegetables complete from A-Z.
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Green beans
- Green onions
- Green peas
- Red pepper
- Spinach
- Yellow squash
The Importance of Pasta Water
As mentioned under the recipe notes, pasta water is something you take out right before you’re about to drain your noodles. Take a liquid measuring cup (preferably a glass measuring cup) and remove some of the pasta water from the pot.
The pasta water will help thicken your sauce and the starchy liquid will also enhance some of the flavours.
Fresh Is Best
As always, it’s best if you use fresh ingredients in your creations. Freshly grated parmesan is way better than the canned stuff. Fresh herbs are more flavourful than dried spices.
Make Sure Your Pot or Skillet Is Large Enough
Since you’re mixing all the ingredients together at the end, you’ll want to make sure you have enough room for all of your ingredients to mix and mingle. I personally prefer a large skillet, but you can also mix it together in the pasta pot once the pasta has been cooked and drained.
Use the Pasta Primavera Recipe as a Guideline
If you prefer crunchier veggies, cook them for only 5 minutes instead of what’s recommended in the recipe. As I’ve stated before, there are thousands of ways to make pasta primavera. Use this recipe as a guideline and create your own version that your tastebuds will love.
Cook Al Dente for Superior Pasta
Cooking noodles “al dente” is like finding the happy medium. Your pasta isn’t too hard, and it’s also not too mushy either. Your bag or box of noodles will state the proper cook times to achieve the perfect al dente pasta. Another option is to keep trying the pasta as you cook it until it reaches your desired consistency.
Don’t Rinse Your Pasta
After you’ve drained the pasta, don’t resort to rinsing them. You’ll want the starches left on the noodles, as they’ll help the sauce stick. The only time you want to rinse noodles after cooking is if they’re rice noodles or if you’re using them to make some sort of pasta salad.
If you’d like, you can also stir in some olive oil or butter afterwards to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
Stir Your Pasta
After you’ve added the pasta to the boiling water, you’ll want to give it a quick stir and stir it occasionally until it’s done cooking. This will help to separate the pasta.
One time, I rushed around trying to get dinner ready and totally forgot to stir the pasta after I put it in. Yea. Ask me how that went. I had a giant clump at the end.
The Side Pieces for Pasta Primavera
This dish is quite filling and a centrepiece in itself. Every recipe needs a “Side Piece” though, so here are a few ideas of things to serve with pasta primavera.
- Arugula or spinach salad
- Baguette with butter or other spread
- Breadsticks
- Caesar salad
- Caprese salad (Only choose this if you really like tomatoes)
- Cheesy bread
- Consommé or other soup
- Cornbread
- Garlic bread
Variations for Pasta Primavera
Swapping out veggies has already been covered under the tips and tricks. Here are other ways to spruce up your pasta.
- Add chicken, salmon, or shrimp for a meat option. You can also use tofu for a vegetarian and vegan option.
- Add in lemon zest or juice for extra flavour
- Stir in other spices or fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, oregano, or thyme
- Top pasta with parmesan cheese or other cheese of choice
- Use gluten free pasta in place of regular pasta
- Swap out the tomatoes for sundried tomatoes
- You can also add in a splash of chicken broth or veggie broth when you add in the pasta water. This will give your pasta added flavour.
Vegan Corner
Surprise! The recipe is already vegan. Enjoy!
As a lifelong pasta lover this recipe has been a staple in our kitchen since years but I always stuck with the basics. I sure will be more adventurous in the future with some of the suggested variations, so this post was very motivating for me.
Thank you for the love and support 🙂
Everything she’s makes is beyond amazing. Even the vegan options are awesome and I’m a meat eater.
I appreciate the love and support. Thank you so much 🙂