Zucchini and Mint Pasta Dinner

Posted On Feb 24, 2023 By Brandy Gales

Zucchini mint pasta dinner

This dinner is a true weeknight wonder meal. This is ready in under 30 minutes, it’s light yet filling, and the ingredients are relatively inexpensive. This would also fill a “Meatless Monday” meal quota if you are looking for some new recipes. If you are low carb, there are a lot of lower carb pastas, or gluten free pastas that would easily substitute for a traditional white pasta.

My entire family loves this meal, and I think yours will as well.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

What You Need

  • 1-pound penne or another short pasta
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound), sliced thinly in rounds
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Shaved parmesan cheese
  • Freshly torn mint leaves, for topping
  • Freshly torn basil leaves, for topping
pasta, zucchini, mint, olives and lemon on a plate

What You Will Do

  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted (2 tablespoons) water to a rolling boil.
  • Pour in the penne pasta and cook to your liking. I like my pasta to have a little bite to it, this takes about 7-10 minutes.
  • Strain and place to the side.
  • Meanwhile, while the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add in the zucchini and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden brown, this will take about 5 minutes.
  • Add in the garlic and olives. Cook while stirring consistently, until the garlic is fragrant, this will take about 1 minute.
  • Pour the zucchini and olive mixture over pasta, add lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, and toss to coat.
  • Top with freshly shaved parmesan cheese, mint, basil and salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Recipe Tips:

  • This will stay in the refrigerator for 3 days in an airtight container.

Now the last thing you have to do, as my daughter would say is, “Eat, Eat.”