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Make this delicious Creamy Zucchini Sauce with fresh garden zucchini and herbs.
Over the last few months – when we had more garden zucchini than we could eat – my husband Jack started testing out a Creamy Zucchini Sauce recipe. What started out as a way for us to use up a glut of zucchini ended up being one of our new favorite zucchini recipes of the summer!
We show this Creamy Zucchini Sauce served simply with pasta, but (especially if you are avoiding carbs) it’s also delicious spooned over other cooked vegetables, or in any recipe that calls for a cream sauce.
How do you make Creamy Zucchini Sauce?
You’ll start by cutting about two-and-a-half pounds of fresh garden zucchini in half lengthwise – then use a spoon to remove the seeds. Next, grate the zucchini (skin and all) with a box grater or with the grater attachment of a food processor.
Saute some diced, sweet onions in a large skillet, then add a pinch of red pepper flakes and minced garlic and cook for another minute or so.
Then, add your shredded zucchini to the skillet, along with fresh basil, oregano and mint. (By the way, this Creamy Zucchini Sauce recipe is a great way to use up fresh garden herbs too!) Simmer the zucchini-herb mixture for about 15 minutes – cooking until the zucchini is super soft.
Add heavy cream and more fresh herbs, then add grated Romano cheese to finish off the sauce.
Toss with your favorite pasta, or spoon this Creamy Zucchini Sauce over steamed vegetables. Enjoy!
You may enjoy these other Zucchini reicpes:
- Zucchini Pie
- Zucchini Relish
- Sausage Stuffed Zucchini
- Salmon with Zucchini and Spaghetti
- Zucchini Risotto with Goat Cheese and Prosciutto
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Creamy Zucchini Sauce
Make this delicious Creamy Zucchini Sauce with fresh garden zucchini and herbs.
Ingredients
12 ounces your favorite dry pasta
2 1/2 pounds zucchini
3/4 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
1 cup sweet onion diced, such as Vidalia
Pinch red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped and divided
4 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped and divided
4 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped and divided
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions and reserve one cup of the pasta water.
- Cut the zucchinis in half the long way and remove seeds and ends. Shred on large holes of a box grater or use the shredder blade of a food processor. Set aside.
- While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add olive oil and once hot, add the onion and saute for three minutes.
- Add the pepper flakes and garlic and cook one minute then add the zucchini, salt, pepper, half the basil, half the oregano and half the mint. Bring up to a bubble, cover and reduce heat to medium low and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and making sure the mixture doesn’t stick.
- After 15 minutes, remove the cover and add the cream and the remaining herbs and bring up to heat.
- Add the Romano cheese and if too thick, add some pasta water to thin the sauce, then serve either mixed with the pasta or served on the side.
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Notes
Note: Nutritional information below includes pasta.
Loved the base. I left out the mint and added sun dried tomatoes and mushrooms for bulk and flavor variety.
Sounds like a nice adaptation Val – thanks for sharing.
This was really good! I used fresh zucchini that was still quite sweet. The herbs really made it taste great. I was a little worried about the amount of fat, so I used a quarter cup of light cream instead of one cup of heavy cream. I didn’t use 3/4 of a cup of olive oil, I only used a quarter cup, and it didn’t seem to lack anything.
Thanks Kim!
I wonder if this would be good on cheese tortellini?
Sure Stephanie!
We cannot wait to try this. I was thinking of adding quartered cherry tomatoes right before serving??? What’s your thoughts on this idea?
Sure Linda!
This is freaking delicious. Used cocoanut cream instead of cream and it was great!
Thanks for the suggestion Susan!
I just made this to freeze. I’ll try this on my spaghetti squash in the fall. It tastes delicious and I love that the zucchini and basil are from my garden.
So glad you enjoyed the sauce recipe Betty Jane!
Fabulous, sincerely. We used coconut cream instead of heavy cream and it was awesome
Thanks Susan!
Love this! Even my zucchini hating son said it was delicious. I did use my immersion blender before adding Greek yogurt (instead of cream) to smooth the sauce even more.
Thanks for the suggestion Sheena! Glad you enjoyed the sauce.
I did have to do some substitutions but our family loved this recipe. I will definitely be making it again. Thank you for posting it.
You’re welcome Katrina – glad you enjoyed the sauce!
I had a similar sauce in France with stone sea bass fish sitting in sauce and thin zucchini slices fried and placed on top. This is very delicious and a great way to use zucchini. Using rest with gnocchi tonight. Thank you 😊
You’re welcome Maggie – sounds like a wonderful meal!