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Pasta Primavera (with Zucchini this time)

By Kyle Phillips, About.com

Primavera sauce is incredibly variable; some people like some vegetables, and some vegetables do better in one vegetable patch as opposed to another, so no two recipes are alike, though they all do share the freshness of spring. This sauce is perfect over pasta and will take minutes. To serve four:

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound (500 g) baby zucchini
  • 2 ribs from the heart of a celery plant
  • 2 small carrots
  • A scallion
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 5 basil leaves, shredded
  • A small bunch parsley, minced
  • A pinch of shredded hot pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • 12 ounces (320 g) spaghetti

Preparation:

Wash the zucchini, trim their tips, quarter them lengthwise and dice them. Finely slice the scallion. Wash the celery, peel the carrot, and dice both.

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a pot, flavor it with a healthy pinch of red pepper flakes, and after a second add the scallion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring, over a medium flame for about 4 minutes, and then add the zucchini. Mix well, and then add the tomato sauce and the milk. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes. Check seasoning, and raise the flame if need be to thicken the sauce. Once it is the proper consistency, turn off the flame and stir in the parsley and basil.

In the meantime, bring pasta water to a boil, salt it, and cook the pasta; when it's done drain it and season it with the sauce.
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