Spaghetti with Fresh Zucchini Pesto

By DreiFromBK

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup blanched almonds (4 1/2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
• Pinch of crushed red pepper
• 3 medium zucchini (1 1/2 pounds), half of 1 zucchini cut into matchsticks and the remainder chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Pecorino Romano (4 ounces), plus more for serving
• 1/2 cup chopped mint, plus more for garnish

Details

Servings 6
Cooking time 50mins
Adapted from foodandwine.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast for about 8 minutes, until golden. Let cool, then coarsely chop. Reserve 1/4 cup for garnish.

In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the chopped zucchini, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Scrape the zucchini into 
a food processor and add the remaining 1/2 cup of chopped almonds; pulse to combine. With the machine on, slowly add the remaining 6 tablespoons of oil until combined but still slightly chunky. Season the pesto with salt and pepper.

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain. Off the heat, return the pasta to the hot pot and add the reserved pasta water, the pesto, zucchini matchsticks, lemon zest, 1 1/2 cups of cheese and 1/2 cup of mint. Stir until well combined and saucy. Transfer the pasta to bowls. Garnish with mint and the reserved almonds.

Serve, passing cheese at the table.