zucchini corkscrew pasta with cilantro pesto

By Jody

Ingredients

• 12 12 12 oz corkscrew pasta
• 3 3 1/4 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced 1/4 in thick
• 1/3 1/3 1/3 c evoo
• 2 2 2 tsp cumin
• 1 1 1 tsp lime zest
• 2 2 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 1/4 1 1/4 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 1/2 1/2 c roasted pine nuts
• 2 2 1/4 c tightly packed cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus 1/4 c leaves
• 3 3 3 tsp lime juice
• 3/4 3/4 3/4 tsp crushed red chile flakes

Preparation

Step 1

Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. add pasta; cook until barely tender, 8 minutes, then add zucchini, cook until pasta is al dente and zucchini barely tender, about 3 minutes. drain, reserving 1/2 c pasta water.
Meanwhile, put oil, cumin, lime zest, garlic, salt and pine nuts in blender and blend until smooth. add 2 cups cilantro and process until smooth. pour into a bowl and stir in lime juice, chile flakes.
Return pasta and zucchini to warm pot. toss with cilantro pesto and pour in enough pasta water to loosen.