Summer is a season of abundance, with fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs bursting with flavor. It's time to lighten up your meals and enjoy the bright, vibrant flavors that the season has to offer. One of the best ways to do this is with a delicious summery pasta dish, like spring summer ziti. This flavorful pasta is packed with colorful vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and tomatoes, and tossed in a light, creamy sauce. It's the perfect dish to enjoy on a warm summer evening, and it's sure to become a new family favorite.
Let's cook with our recipes!
SPRING-SUMMER ZITI
A yummy recipe from Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book. She got tired of living half of the year without her ziti, so came up with ziti lovely in flavor! A light tomato sauce with tarragon and basil surrounds the ziti at the bottom and on the top of the serving dish. The pasta is tossed with asparagus tips, sweet ricotta, tender peas and Parmigiano. She says to keep your tissues handy, this one might bring you to tears. :)
Provided by Sharon123
Categories Cheese
Time 47m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400*F.
- Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil for pasta.
- While water is coming to a boil, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.Saute the shallots and garlic for 3-5 minutes, then stir in tomatoes and crush them with a wooden spoon or potato masher. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 5 more mintes, then stir in the tarragon and basil and remove from the heat.
- While the sauce is simmering, salt the boiling water and cook the pasta to just under al dente-a nice bite left to it. After the pasta has been cooking for 5 minutes, add the asparagus and frozen peas to the pot for a minute or two before draining. Drain the pasta and veggies.
- Add the ricotta, half the Parmigiano cheese, and the lemon zest to the hot pasta pot. return the hot pasta to the pot and stir to coat evenly.
- Pour half the tomato sauce into a large baking dish. Add all of the ziti and top with the remaining Parmigiano. Bake until the top is brown and bubbly, about 12 minutes. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 628, Fat 23.6, SaturatedFat 11.6, Cholesterol 60.4, Sodium 545.4, Carbohydrate 72.5, Fiber 6.6, Sugar 8.3, Protein 32.5
BAKED ZITI AND SUMMER VEGETABLES
I recommend this 40 minute dish. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, and paired with recipe#459021#459021, is a nice complimentary meal.
Provided by weekend cooker
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 45m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt, and drain.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add oil to pan.
- Add squash, zucchini, and onion and saute for 5 minutes.
- Add tomato and garlic and saute 3 minutes, remove from heat and stir in pasta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, all herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and all the pepper.
- Combine ricotta, remaining salt, and egg, and stir into pasta mixture.
- Spoon into an 8-inch square glass, or ceramic baking dish, coated with cooking spray, and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake 400 degrees or until bubbly, and browned.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 291.4, Fat 11.3, SaturatedFat 4.7, Cholesterol 69.3, Sodium 663.5, Carbohydrate 32.4, Fiber 3.7, Sugar 6.8, Protein 16.2
SPINACH ZITI
A simple, colorful pasta dish. Serve with a tossed salad and freshly grated parmesan cheese for a great meal.
Provided by Sue H.
Categories 100+ Pasta and Noodle Recipes Pasta by Shape Recipes Ziti Recipes
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot filled with salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook until tender but still firm, about 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium sized non-reactive pan, combine tomatoes and hot pepper flakes. Warm over medium-low heat, breaking up tomatoes if necessary.
- Drain pasta and return to hot pan. Add spinach, cream cheese and nutmeg. Cook, stirring, over low heat until spinach wilts, 1-2 minutes. Pour tomato sauce over spinach ziti. Stir and toss gently to mix.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 195.8 calories, Carbohydrate 32.7 g, Cholesterol 10.4 mg, Fat 4 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 6.7 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 193.5 mg, Sugar 3.9 g
CREAMIEST FALL ZITI RECIPE BY TASTY
Ring in fall with this veggie-packed, delicious ziti! Creamy pumpkin sauce and tons of melty cheese make this the perfect fall dinner.
Provided by Aleya Zenieris
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- On an unlined baking sheet, toss together the cauliflower, red onion, 1 tablespoon sage, 1 tablespoon thyme, the garlic, olive oil, and 1 teaspoon salt until well combined. Roast for 12-15 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and golden brown.
- While the vegetables roast, generously season the boiling water with salt, then add the rigatoni and cook for 6-7 minutes, until the noodles are beginning to soften but still have some bite. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot.
- In a blender, combine the pumpkin purée, heavy cream, white wine vinegar, remaining tablespoon of sage leaves, remaining tablespoon of thyme, remaining 1½ teaspoons salt, the pepper, and nutmeg. Blend on medium speed until smooth. (Alternatively, add the ingredients to a deep bowl and use an immersion blender to purée until completely smooth.)
- To the pot with the cooked pasta, add the sauce, ricotta, Parmesan, roasted cauliflower and onion, and kale. Fold to combine, then add the reserved pasta water and continue folding until the pasta is well coated in the sauce.
- Pour half of the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1½ cups of mozzarella over the pasta, then top with the remaining pasta and 2½ cups mozzarella. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 10-12 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling. Remove the foil and return to the oven for another 5-7 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 500 calories, Carbohydrate 48 grams, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 26 grams, Sugar 8 grams
BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH AND MEAT
This recipe lasts my family of four for at least three meals when served with a dinner salad and crusty Italian bread. It is wonderful Italian comfort food.
Provided by Steven M,
Time 1h20m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir ground beef, onion, and 1/2 of the garlic in the hot skillet until beef is until browned and onion is wilted, 5 to 7 minutes. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.
- While the meat sauce is simmering, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add remaining garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add spinach and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Mix ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and wilted spinach in a bowl. Season with salt.
- Place 1/2 of the ziti in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish and layer with 1/2 of the meat sauce. Spread provolone cheese on top to form a flat surface. Spread spinach mixture over top, then cover with remaining ziti and meat sauce. Top with 2 tablespoons Parmesan and sprinkle mozzarella over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let firm up for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 503.3 calories, Carbohydrate 50 g, Cholesterol 63.5 mg, Fat 20.3 g, Fiber 5.2 g, Protein 29.2 g, SaturatedFat 9.6 g, Sodium 870.3 mg, Sugar 12.7 g
Tips:
- For the best flavor, use fresh, ripe tomatoes. If you can't find fresh tomatoes, use canned diced tomatoes.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it according to the package directions, or until it is al dente.
- Use a large skillet or Dutch oven to cook the sauce. This will give the sauce plenty of room to simmer and develop its flavor.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a little bit of heat.
- Serve the pasta with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and a side of garlic bread.
Conclusion:
Spring and summer are the perfect time to enjoy a light and refreshing pasta dish. This spring-summer ziti recipe is a great way to use up fresh tomatoes and basil. The sauce is simple to make and the pasta is cooked to al dente perfection. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table.
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