Melinda's Freakin' Good Pasta

My mom made up this flavorful pasta. It's very simple and great with fresh tomatoes for a summer night meal! Add shrimp or chicken for a heartier version of this pasta.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 426 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
• 1 (16 ounce) package fettuccine noodles
• 2 zucchini, shredded
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, or to taste
• 5 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1 (4 ounce) log goat cheese, crumbled

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in the fettuccine, bring back to a boil, and cook pasta over medium heat until cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain water, reserving 1 cup pasta water.

Step 2

Melt butter in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat; add zucchini, 3 cloves minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir zucchini mixture in the melted butter until most of the moisture has evaporated, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3

Heat olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes, remaining 2 cloves minced garlic, salt, and pepper to onion; cook and stir, crushing tomatoes to desired consistency, until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Mix fettuccine and zucchini mixture into onion mixture, adding as much reserved pasta water to keep pasta moist. Stir goat cheese and basil into pasta mixture.