Pasta Primavera Italian Vegetables (Printable)

Al dente pasta with fresh spring vegetables in a light, flavorful sauce. A colorful Italian classic ready in 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz penne or spaghetti

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small zucchini, sliced
03 - 1 small yellow squash, sliced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, julienned
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed
07 - 1 cup broccoli florets

→ Aromatics & Sauce

08 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
09 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
11 - 1/2 cup vegetable broth
12 - Juice of 1 lemon
13 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, chopped
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# How To Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add zucchini, squash, bell pepper, and broccoli. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until just tender.
04 - Add cherry tomatoes and sugar snap peas. Sauté another 2-3 minutes.
05 - Pour in vegetable broth and lemon juice. Simmer 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
06 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet, along with Parmesan and a splash of reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Toss well to combine and heat through.
07 - Stir in fresh basil and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning.
08 - Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan and herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its the perfect way to use up whatever vegetables are languishing in your crisper drawer without feeling like youre making a compromise meal
  • The sauce comes together while the pasta cooks, meaning dinner is on the table in under 30 minutes even on busy weeknights
02 -
  • Never rinse your pasta after draining, that starch helps the sauce cling to every strand
  • Add vegetables to the pan in order of cooking time so nothing ends up mushy or raw
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables before you start cooking, the actual cooking goes so fast that you wont have time to chop once the heat is on
  • Use the largest skillet you own, crowding the pan will steam the vegetables instead of sautéing them