Meatless Monday with Zucchini and Ricotta Shells

Hello and welcome (back) to the Miratel blog for the latest instalment of our Meatless Monday recipe series. The Meatless Monday pledge aims to reduce meat consumption 15% by eliminating it one day per week to improve personal and planetary health. Miratel took the pledge to support this great movement, which we include as part of our CSR business strategies to spread awareness of the impact of food choices on our environment. We feature a new vegan or vegetarian recipe each week to help make going meat-free easier.

Our recipe today is for a hearty flavour-packed pasta dish of zucchini and ricotta shells. This simple vegetarian meal comes from the CBC hit cooking show Best Recipes Ever. Now, let’s get cooking.

Zucchini and Ricotta Shells Ingredients:

• 4 cups (1 L) medium shell pasta or large shell pasta
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) ricotta cheese
• 1 tsp (5 mL) grated lemon rind
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) pepper
• 2 zucchini
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) thinly sliced fresh mint
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) thinly sliced green onion, green part only
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice

Directions:

1. In saucepan of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the cooking liquid. In large bowl, toss together pasta, ricotta, lemon rind, salt, pepper and half of the reserved cooking liquid.
2. Meanwhile, quarter each zucchini lengthwise. With knife, cut away core; cut on bias into slices.
3. In skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute zucchini until tender, about 5 minutes. Add to pasta along with mint, green onion, lemon juice and enough of the remaining cooking liquid for desired creaminess, tossing to coat.

This recipe will yield about four portions. Our zucchini and ricotta shells will make for a filling but light dinner that everyone will enjoy. This meal has a sophistication to it that makes it perfect to serve for a special occasion at any time of the year. In fact, this would make for a wonderful vegetarian main course or buffet item during the holidays.

You could make this dish even healthier by using 100% whole wheat, whole-grain, spelt or brown rice pasta. By using pasta with more fibre content you are increasing the nutritional value of the meal and also it will help make you feel fuller for a longer period of time. To complete this meal, serve with a lightly dressed Italian or balsamic vinaigrette dressed salad.

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

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Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values in all contact centre services and mail house operations and advancing the missions of the nonprofits we proudly serve.