Description
Creamy Pasta Primavera is a delightful dish that celebrates fresh vegetables combined with a creamy sauce and pasta. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne or fettuccine pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup zucchini, sliced
- 1 cup yellow squash, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: red pepper flakes for heat
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente; drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Sauté the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add diced onion and sauté until translucent (3-4 minutes).
- Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook the sliced red bell pepper, broccoli, zucchini, and yellow squash for 5-7 minutes until tender but slightly crisp; then add cherry tomatoes and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Pour the heavy cream into the skillet, add Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper; simmer for 3-4 minutes to thicken.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the sauce and vegetables, mixing in reserved pasta water if needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and optional red pepper flakes.
Notes
Consider using seasonal vegetables for added flavor and color. For a lighter version, replace heavy cream with half-and-half.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 45mg