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Zucchini & Yellow Squash Spaghetti

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Total Time: 29 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 zucchini, julienned, about 7 cups (see note)
  • 2 yellow squash, julienned, about 3 1/2 cups (see note)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from about 1 large lemon
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup thinly sliced fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon minced lemon zest

Instructions 

  • In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Drain (but do not rinse!).
  • While the spaghetti is boiling, saute the garlic in the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the julienned zucchini and squash. Season with salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon of each to start). Cook the zucchini and squash until slightly wilted, 1 minute, then add the lemon juice. Cook for 1-2 minutes more, until the squash and zucchini are just for tender.
  • Off the heat, stir in the cooked spaghetti, Parmesan cheese, basil and lemon zest. Top with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Squash + Zucchini: the recipe says to julienne the squash and zucchini. This simply means to cut them into thin strands (for this recipe, you want them to approximate the size of the cooked spaghetti strands). You can use a mandolin or the large holes of a box grater.
Zucchini: I like to use zucchini that are on the smaller side so you don't have a bunch of seeds to deal with. Look for zucchini that are around two or so inches in diameter - the freshest zucchini have little tiny prickly hairs along the green skin.
Lemon: also, zest the lemon before juicing so you don't have to use an extra lemon just for the zest.