5.0 from 57 votes
Orecchiette pasta with Zucchini and Speck
A delicious combination of summer vegetables, smoked cured ham from Northern Italy and orecchiette pasta from Southern Italy. It’s easy to make and can be eaten tepid or cold as a salad
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 4
Calories: 596 kcal
Course:
Main Course , Salad
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 2-3 zucchini depending on size
- 150 g speck or pancetta slices or in one piece
- 320 g orecchiette pasta preferrably fresh
- 1 onion
- 6-8 cherry tomatoes
- 50 g parmesan grated
- 2-3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 6-8 basil leaves
- salt for cooking pasta and to season
- black pepper to season
Instructions
- Slice the onion thinly, cut the zucchini into small strips, half the tomatoes, chop the basil and cut the speck into small pieces.
- Heat the olive oil in a frying pan or skillet and add the onion. When the onion starts to soften add the zucchini strips and, after a few minutes, the chopped speck.
- Let the ingredients cook until the speck and zucchini start to brown a little then add the halved tomatoes and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes.
- Before the sauce is ready, add salt and pepper to taste and the chopped basil. Set the sauce aside or let it simmer on low.
- Cook the pasta al dente in boiling salted water. Save a cup of the pasta cooking water. Strain the orecchiette and add them to the frying pan.
- Mix everything together and continue cooking for a couple minutes. If the sauce is too dry add some of the pasta cooking water.
- Serve with grated parmesan or grana cheese and a little more olive oil is desired.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- This dish can be eaten as a salad and is still delicious the next day if kept covered in the fridge.
- For readers in US, I know that Italian speck from the South Tirol can be bought online from SupermarketItaly.com
- SupermarketItaly.com
Nutrition Information
Calories
596kcal
(30%)
Carbohydrates
67g
(22%)
Protein
21g
(42%)
Fat
27g
(42%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Monounsaturated Fat
13g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
33mg
(11%)
Sodium
465mg
(19%)
Potassium
618mg
(18%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
464IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
26mg
(29%)
Calcium
193mg
(19%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 596
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 596kcal | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 67g | 22% |
| Protein | 21g | 42% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 33mg | 11% |
| Sodium | 465mg | 19% |
| Potassium | 618mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 464IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 26mg | 29% |
| Calcium | 193mg | 19% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.