Get ready to transform your ordinary pasta night into a culinary celebration! This Vegetable Party Spaghetti with Warm Garlic Thyme Olive Oil is not just a meal; it's a vibrant, flavor-packed experience that will transport you straight to the rustic kitchens of Italy. With its perfectly al dente spaghetti, crisp zucchini, burst of cherry tomatoes, and an intoxicating garlic-thyme infused olive oil, this dish promises to be the star of your dining table.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup zucchini, sliced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Add spaghetti to boiling water and cook according to package instructions, typically 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, prepare vegetables. Wash and halve cherry tomatoes and slice zucchini into thin, uniform rounds.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and fresh thyme, allowing them to infuse the oil gently without browning, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add sliced zucchini to the garlic-infused oil, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp.
- Introduce halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet, cooking for an additional 2 minutes to slightly soften them.
- Drain pasta and add directly to the skillet with vegetables. Toss gently to combine, adding reserved pasta water if needed to create a light sauce.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly to ensure even coating.
- Serve immediately in warm pasta bowls, garnishing with additional fresh thyme if desired.
Tips
- Always salt your pasta water generously - it should taste like the sea to properly season your pasta from the inside out.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining; its starchy goodness helps create a silky, clingy sauce.
- Cook vegetables just until tender-crisp to maintain their vibrant color and nutritional value.
- Use fresh thyme if possible - it provides a more intense, aromatic flavor compared to dried herbs.
- Keep your olive oil at medium-low heat to prevent garlic from burning and turning bitter.
- Toss the pasta and vegetables gently to prevent breaking the delicate spaghetti strands.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 350kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 10g
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 0mg
