Meatless Monday: Zucchini Fettucine alla Maria

I was fortunate enough to enjoy a family trip to Italy earlier this summer. To celebrate my parents’ 50th anniversary, my siblings and our spouses, neices, nephews and an aunt and uncle all spent a week in Tuscany. It was an incredible experience, and of course the food was unforgettable. A couple of nights we walked to a nearby trattoria, a couple of nights we cooked for ourselves, and a couple of nights a neighbour named Maria came to cook for all 16 of us. One of the dishes struck me as so simple and delicious I vowed to make it at home. Here it is; doesn’t it look great?  And it’s so fresh-tasting. Here’s how to recreate it:

Put a pot of water on to boil, and cook fettucine (enough for two main course meals, or four appetizers). Meanwhile, saute a chopped onion and a clove of crushed garlic and chopped rosemary in a little olive oil. Add two cups of shredded zucchini (I used my cheese grater’s large side) and saute a couple of minutes. Toss with the hot pasta noodles, adding a bit more olive oil to loosen it up. Top with grated fresh Parmesan and hot chili flakes. That’s it, that’s all… enjoy!