Description
Spaghetti Alla Nerano is a classic Italian pasta dish featuring golden fried zucchini combined with fresh basil, parmesan cheese, and a creamy sauce made from pasta cooking water. This simple yet flavorful dish highlights the zucchini’s delicate sweetness and the richness of parmesan in a comforting, authentic Southern Italian meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Frying
- 2 cups sunflower oil or vegetable oil
- 6 medium zucchini, thinly sliced (about 2 1/2 pounds)
Seasoning & Sauce
- 1 cup chopped fresh basil
- Kosher salt, to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 cups grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat Oil: Add the sunflower oil to a large pot and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, preparing for frying the zucchini.
- Fry Zucchini: Fry the thinly sliced zucchini in the hot oil until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Prepare Zucchini Mixture: Combine the fried zucchini with chopped fresh basil and kosher salt to taste. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and gently toss to mix the flavors.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente, then reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Toss Pasta and Zucchini: Add the drained spaghetti to a large skillet over medium-low heat. Toss the pasta with the fried zucchini mixture, gradually adding reserved pasta cooking water as needed to create a creamy sauce.
- Add Parmesan: Stir in the grated parmesan cheese while continuously tossing the pasta to coat it evenly, allowing the sauce to thicken and become creamy. Season with additional kosher salt to taste.
- Serve: Drizzle additional extra virgin olive oil on top and serve with extra parmesan cheese on the side for garnish.
Notes
- Zucchini can be fried and prepared up to 5 days ahead of time and kept refrigerated for convenience.
- Use fresh parmesan cheese for the best authentic flavor and creamy texture.
- Adjust the amount of reserved pasta water gradually to reach a perfect creamy sauce consistency without making it too watery.
- For a lighter version, consider using less oil but maintain enough to achieve the rich flavor of fried zucchini.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
