Zesty Zucchini Ribbons, Artichokes & Mixed Beans With Wheat Fettuccine
By: Adelina
Published: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 10:36am

Ingredients




Vegetables
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, sliced thinly
1/4 cup whipped cream
1/2 lemon juice
1/2 lemon zest
12 ounces frozen quartered artichokes
6 ounces frozen mixed beans
2 zucchinis, thinly sliced with mandolin
4 shaves of pecorino romano
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Pasta
16 ounces wheat pasta
1/2 cup fresh tomato sauce (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1 Prepare pasta per package directions and drain.  Add tomato sauce and salt and pepper to taste. 2 In the meantime prepare your vegetables.  On medium high heat, add  olive oil.  Saute garlic for about a minute, followed by cream, lemon juice and zest and let it come to a simmer.  Then start adding the frozen mixed beans, frozen artichokes.  Cover the pan with lid to help cook the frozen veggies for about 5 minutes, then open the lid and lower the heat and add the zucchini ribbons and let it cook for additional 7 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. 3 To serve top the pasta with these beautiful vegetables, herbs and grated pecorino romano.

About


I was on a rush Saturday lunch-time to get something quick, but healthy in front of my kids.  This pasta came to be a savior as I decided to pull things from my fridge and start prepping while my pasta came to a boil.  Not much thinking was involved, except to put the ingredients that were already in my fridge into an edible state.
Even though my beautiful picture shows the vegetables over pasta, I actually served it separate to my picky children. They don't like to see their food mixed together.  I am being patient on how I serve their food as long as they are trying to eat their vegetables.
The outcome was delicious, hearty and beautiful! If you have never used a mandolin, or a vegetable peeler on slicing vegetables, it works great on zucchinis.  They not only come out beautiful like ribbons, but they also have a silky-like texture like ribbons, which makes eating them so much more fun.
Overall I was happy with my creation and results.  I also felt at peace that both of my girls ate their food and got rewarded with bubble bath play.