Zucchini and Pasta With Fresh Ricotta and Basil Pesto

Zucchini and Pasta with Fresh Ricotta and Basil Pesto Recipe from Platter Talk

We are in love with summer. For one thing, there are few places more pleasant than finding yourself surrounded by the green rolling pastures of Wisconsin in mid-August. Furthermore and most relevant to our purpose here, it's not just the most beautiful time of the year here, it is also the most delicious.

It isn't simply the summer food and weather that we love in Wisconsin. It is living and breathing the season that we cherish but most of all experiencing it. Bike rides down quiet country roads while watching the corn grow on a daily basis, and swimming in the cool spring-fed lakes. For those of us who live here, these are all obviously rights of summer passage in Wisconsin.

In our family there is yet one more big part of summer here in Wisconsin. It seems like each weekend finds us at our favorite farmers market. Every. Single. Saturday. In Wisconsin, everyone has their favorite place to eat fish on Fridays. And by the same token everyone has their favorite farmers market.

Our favorite farmers market is in the small summer town of Elkhart Lake, just a stone's throw from our quite weekend cottage oasis, thus making it an enjoyable convenience. This farmers market is a place where we have come to know people. A place where we always bring the kids. And a one-horse town where we can grab lunch and a glass of wine in the afternoon. It is Nirvāṇa to our family and consequently an integral part of our weekend life.

The Wisconsin Summer Town of Elkhart Lake.

Our Family's Favorite Farmers Market. Elkhart Lake, WI.

As you may have guessed, the fresh produce for this Zucchini and Pasta with Fresh Ricotta and Basil Pesto all came from this farmers market and in addition it includes:

• Zucchini, yellow and green
• Fresh basil
• Hardneck garlc

  
  

  • This garlic has a firmer neck (stalk) than the softneck garlic often found in supermarkets.
  • Unlike the softneck variety, hardneck peels easier.
  • This garlic carries flavor nuances indigenous of the soil in which it grew, similar to wine.
  • Hardneck garlic has a shorter of just 3 to 4 months, so enjoy it early!

  
  

You may have also picked up by the title of this Zucchini and Pasta with Fresh Ricotta and Basil Pesto, the produce is not the only fresh component to this dish.

Our R icotta Cheese from Scratch. Make this and amaze yourself.

A week or so ago we showed you how to make this Ricotta Cheese from Scratch. Nothing could have complimented today's recipe any more completely, because of its freshness and due to its light, creamy character.

This dish finishes in one of our favorite cooking vessels: the timeless cast iron skillet.

We enjoyed this Zucchini and Pasta with Fresh Ricotta and Basil Pesto so much that we made it twice within a week. In doing so, we learned a thing or two about this recipe that I want to pass on.

• More isn't always better. Due to their moisture content, don't overdo it with the vegetables. A couple of small zucchini are sufficient. Certainly no more than a pound of it. Too much zucchini adds an overabundance of water to the dish.

• Size doesn't always matter, therefore stick to smaller and thinner slices of the zucchini. It sears faster, is firmer, and finally, it is less watery.

• As always fresh is always best. Consequently, we preferred the version of this dish that uses ricotta made on that day (assuming you're going to make your own - c'mon, you know you want to try this!) Ricotta dries out a bit with time and because of this the fresh stuff lends a creaminess that everyone went gaga over.
• Rather than soft and lightly cooked, we preferred the sautéd onion and zucchini with a little brown on their edges. In addition to the added color, this gives a nice texture and a bit of a sweeter finish.

• Finally, use the leftover whey to add moisture to the dish if necessary. As a result, you'll be amazed at the flavor that it adds.

  
  

  
  

Fresh cherry tomatoes are a great option for this dish. We can't imagine why you wouldn't add them.

Although we left them off the above list of ingredients, you likely noticed we threw in a couple of cherry tomatoes for some added color and flavor. And yes, they most certainly came from our little bucolic farmers market as well.

Don't miss our Marinated Farmers Market Tomatoes Recipe; it's all fresh and all summer.

Taste the Summer

Every summer it seems that I designate a favorite meal or two, probably because summer is my favorite season. This Zucchini and Pasta with Fresh Ricotta and Basil Pesto handily won this distinction for 2016 and hence we have another great farmer market recipe for you. We hope you will make it and also feel certain you will love it. I close this post by wishing you only the best of summer and also thank you for reading Platter Talk. It means the world to us. -Dan

Summer Zucchini, Fresh Ricotta & Basil Pesto Over Pasta

Other delicious pasta recipes

• Chicken Penne Alfredo
• Sage & Apple Butter Pasta Sauce with Gnocchi
• Garlic and Basil Shrimp over Angel Hair Pasta
• Stuffed Taco Shells
• Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells
• Rigatoni Margherita
• Easy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

Chicken Meatball Sub Casserole

Sweet and Savory Grilled Eggplant