Zucchini and Speck Penne with Lemon and Mint
Recipe by Silvia Baldini—Zucchini and speck are the stars of the show in this easy to put together pasta. The original recipe was passed down to me by my Mother in Law and it’s very dear to me. Speck is a type of cured lightly smoked ham made in South Tyrol, a province in northeast Italy known for its snow-capped Dolomite. It’s a relative to prosciutto but leaner and more flavorful. A dollop of fresh Robiola adds creaminess and a mild tang, but if you cannot find fresh Robiola at your local store use cream cheese or a table spoon of heavy cream.
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Zucchini and Speck Penne with Lemon and Mint
Recipe by Silvia Baldini—Zucchini and speck are the stars of the show in this easy to put together pasta. The original recipe was passed down to me by my Mother in Law and it’s very dear to me. Speck is a type of cured lightly smoked ham made in South Tyrol, a province in northeast Italy known for its snow-capped Dolomite. It’s a relative to prosciutto but leaner and more flavorful. A dollop of fresh Robiola adds creaminess and a mild tang, but if you cannot find fresh Robiola at your local store use cream cheese or a table spoon of heavy cream.
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| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4people | 15minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 15 minutes |
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Ingredients
- 4tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons (or more) for finishing
- 1large garlic clove, peeled
- ¾cup speck, cut into small ¼-inch cubes
- 4medium zucchinis, cut into small about ¼-inch`
- 2teaspoons lemon zest
- ½cup fresh mint leaves, thorned
- ½cup creamy robiola cheese or cream cheese
- 12oz short pasta penne or any spiral shape
- ½cup grated parmesan
Instructions
- Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until golden, then add the speck, cooking for several more minutes until the fat starts to render. Add zucchini and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until cooked but still a little crunchy in the center. Remove the garlic and set aside.
- Add the lemon zest and mint to a large serving bowl.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente, following package directions for cooking times.
- Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.. Return the pasta to the cooking pot and dress with olive oil and a several generous grindings of black pepper.
- Add the Robiola cheese and melt it by mixing with the pasta on a very low flame for a few minutes. You may need to add some or all of the reserved cooking liquid, a little bit at the time, to get a creamy consistency.
- Transfer the pasta to the serving bowl on top of the lemon zest and mint, adding the speck and zucchini, and toss. Add parmesan and serve.
Recipe Notes
Ask your your deli person to cut you a ¼ inch thick slice of Speck and then dice it before cooking the pasta. You can also use pre-sliced and packaged Speck and slice it into thin ribbons.