Lemony Summer Pasta with Zucchini and Burrata

1. Salt the zucchini. Add sliced zucchini to a bowl and toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let it sit while you start the pasta. Salting helps, but the real win is giving it a few minutes, patting it dry, and using a hot pan so it browns instead of steaming.

2. Boil the pasta. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.

   

3. Brown the zucchini. Pat zucchini very dry with a clean towel or paper towels. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, then add zucchini in an even layer. Cook 3 to 5 minutes without moving too much, until browned in spots, then stir and cook 2 minutes more. Transfer zucchini to a plate.

   

4. Burst the tomatoes. In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add cherry tomatoes and cook 4 to 6 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until some tomatoes blister and burst.

5. Build the sauce. Lower heat to medium. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant. Add lemon zest, then add lemon juice and scrape up any browned bits. Keep the heat moderate so the lemon stays bright, not harsh. Season with a few grinds of black pepper, then taste before you add the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Parmesan and pasta water bring plenty of seasoning on their own.

6. Emulsify with Parmesan and pasta water. Add the drained pasta and browned zucchini back to the skillet. Sprinkle in Parmesan and toss vigorously. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce looks glossy and lightly creamy, not watery. Taste and adjust with more salt, pepper, or lemon.

   

7. Finish like summer. Turn off the heat. Let the pasta sit for 1 to 2 minutes so it’s hot but not screaming. Fold in torn basil. Plate, then top each serving with torn burrata, extra Parmesan, and black pepper. Eat immediately while the burrata melts into the pasta.

   

Matt’s tiny trick: If the sauce ever looks tight or clumpy, don’t panic. Add a tablespoon of hot pasta water and keep tossing. The gloss will come back.