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Farmers Market Fusilli

Farmers Market Fusilli: Brighten Your Summer Dinner Tonight

Farmers Market Fusilli is a delightful vegetarian pasta dish showcasing seasonal ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 8 oz Fusilli or penne/rotini
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes or grape tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil for cooking
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt to taste
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 medium Zucchini or yellow squash/bell peppers
For the Zesty Freshness
  • 1 Juice Lemon
For the Creamy Elements
  • 1/4 cup Smoked Scamorza grated or mozzarella/feta
  • 4 oz Stracciatella or burrata/ricotta
  • 1/2 cup Basil Pesto
For the Crunchy Topping
  • 1/2 cup Lemon Garlic Panko Breadcrumbs or plain panko
  • 1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil for toasting
  • 1 clove Garlic minced
  • 1/2 Juice Lemon
  • 1/4 tsp Salt

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Sauté pan
  • colander

Method
 

Prepare Lemon-Garlic Panko
  1. In a sauté pan over low heat, warm 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add 1 minced garlic clove, sautéing for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and golden. Toss in 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs and 1/4 teaspoon of salt, stirring continuously until the mixture is lightly browned (about 3-5 minutes). Pour in the juice of 1/2 lemon and continue to toast until absorbed for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Cook Pasta
  1. Fill a large pot with water, add salt generously, and bring it to a rolling boil. Carefully add the fusilli and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water and strain the fusilli in a colander.
Sauté Vegetables
  1. In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of sea salt, allowing them to simmer until they begin to split (about 3-4 minutes). Once the tomatoes are soft, mix in the grated zucchini and the remaining minced garlic, cooking for another 3-4 minutes until the zucchini is tender.
Combine
  1. Stir in the cooked fusilli into the sauté pan with the tomatoes and zucchini. Add the fresh juice of 1 lemon and gradually incorporate some of the reserved pasta water as needed. Toss everything together over medium heat, ensuring that the pasta is well-coated with the vegetable mixture, and cook for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors.
Finish
  1. Remove the pan from heat and gently fold in 1/4 cup of grated smoked scamorza until it melts into the pasta, creating a creamy texture. Adjust the consistency with more reserved pasta water if desired. Transfer the Farmers Market Fusilli to serving plates, then top generously with 4 oz. of stracciatella, 1/2 cup of basil pesto, crispy lemon-garlic panko, and some torn basil leaves for a fresh finishing touch.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 15gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 600IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Ensure to salt the pasta water generously; this is essential for infusing flavor. Toast the panko slowly over low heat to avoid burning for the perfect crunch.

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