Meatless Monday with Maccheroni with Zucchini

Ciao e benvenuto and thank you for joining us on Meatless Monday.  Miratel Solutions took the Meatless Monday pledge as part of our CSR business initiatives in support of reducing meat consumption by 15% to improve personal health and the health of the planet. You can learn more about the positive impact of giving up meat just one day per week at www.meatlessmonday.com. Now let’s get to our recipe.

We are traveling to the Abruzzi region of central Italy for dinner tonight and on the menu is Maccheroni with Zucchini. This is a fresh dish that packs big flavor. This recipe was featured on Lidia Bastianich’s PBS show Lidia’s Italy and is from her cookbook Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy.

Ingredients

Maccheroni with Zucchini – image courtesy of lidiasitaly.com

• ¼ teaspoon saffron threads, toasted
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 5 small zucchini, (about 1 1/2 pounds) or 1 pound zucchini, and 24 fresh zucchini flowers (optional)
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 3 cups hot water
• 1 cup scallions , finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• 2 large egg yolks, for cooking and finishing the pasta
• 1 pound Maccheroni alla Chitarra*
• 1 cup Pecorino cheese, freshly grated, plus more for passing

* Alla Chitarra is long pasta with a square shaped that resembles the strings of a guitar. If unavailable, any thick long pasta will work as a substitute.

Directions

1. To toast the saffron threads: Carefully drop the saffron strands into a metal spoon. Hold the spoon over a low open flame for just a few seconds, toasting the threads very gently-the perfume will tell you it’s working! Before they overheat spill the threads out of the spoon into a bowl for steeping or grinding, as called for in the recipe.
2. Put the toasted saffron threads in a small dish with 2 tablespoons of hot water, and let them steep.
3. To cook the maccheroni: heat a large pot of well-salted water (6 quarts or more) to the boil.
4. Trim the zucchini, slice them lengthwise into thin strips, then cut the strips into thin 2-inch-long matchsticks. If you have zucchini flowers, trim off any remnants of stem, pull out the inside filaments (the flower’s stigmas), and chop the flowers into fine shreds. Pour the olive oil into the big skillet, turn on medium-high heat, and stir in the chopped onion. Cook the onion for a few minutes, stirring occasionally until wilting and translucent but not browning.
5. Ladle in 1/2 cup or so of the hot water or stock, and cook the onion in the bubbling liquid for a few minutes more, to soften.
6. Before the liquid evaporates, scatter the zucchini matchsticks (and, if using, the shredded zucchini flowers) into the skillet, and stir them in with the onion, then add the chopped scallions and salt. Cook over high heat, stirring, as the zucchini releases more juices. Let boil and reduce for a couple of minutes again, don’t let the pan get dry. Next ladle in another 2 cups hot water, stir well, and mix in the saffron threads and saffron-infused water, and the chopped parsley. Bring the sauce to a boil, let it reduce for a couple of minutes to tossing consistency, then lower the heat to keep it barely simmering while you cook the maccheroni alla chitarra.
7. For cooking and finishing the pasta: With the pasta water at a rolling boil, shake excess flour off the fresh maccheroni (if using fresh), and drop the strands into the pot, stirring and separating the strands. Return the water to a full boil, and cook the pasta for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, just until al dente.
8. Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks in a mixing bowl with a small wire whisk, and gradually whisk in the last 1/2 cup of hot water, to thin and temper the yolks.
9. When the pasta is cooked, lift out the maccheroni, drain briefly, and drop them into the skillet. With tongs, quickly toss the pasta in the simmering zucchini until the sauce is well distributed among the maccheroni strands.
10. Turn off the heat, and immediately pour the tempered egg yolks in a thin stream all over the maccheroni. Keep tossing and tumbling the pasta, to amalgamate the yolks in the sauce and cook them in the residual heat.
11. Next, sprinkle a cup or so of grated cheese over the maccheroni, toss well, then finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
12. Toss and heap the pasta in warm bowls, and serve immediately, with more cheese at the table

This recipe for maccheroni with zucchini serves six and can be easily adjusted. To make pasta dishes healthier you can substitute traditional semolina pasta for spelt or whole wheat or make it gluten-free with brown rice pasta.

If you haven’t already, we encourage you to visit www.meatlessmonday.com and join us in taking the Meatless Monday pledge today. Spread the word at home and at work to promote CSR business initiatives and make your green call centre, office, factory, shop or salon even greener.

Enjoy!