Description
Spaghetti Alla Nerano is a traditional Italian pasta dish featuring crispy fried zucchini, fresh basil, and creamy parmesan cheese. The zucchini is thinly sliced and fried until golden, then combined with al dente spaghetti and parmesan to create a luscious, flavorful sauce that coats every strand of pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
Oil for Frying
- 2 cups sunflower oil (or vegetable oil)
Zucchini Mixture
- 6 medium zucchini, thinly sliced (about 2 1/2 pounds)
- 1 cup chopped fresh basil
- Kosher salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Pasta
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 cups grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat the Oil: Add the sunflower oil to a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat to prepare for frying the zucchini.
- Fry the Zucchini: Fry the thinly sliced zucchini in the hot oil until golden brown, about 5-6 minutes. Remove them with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare Zucchini Mixture: Combine the fried zucchini with the chopped basil and kosher salt to taste. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and gently toss to combine.
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water before draining the spaghetti.
- Toss Pasta with Zucchini: Add the drained spaghetti to a large skillet over medium-low heat. Toss with the fried zucchini mixture, gradually adding the reserved pasta water as needed until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Stir in the grated parmesan cheese, continuing to toss until the pasta is thoroughly coated and the sauce is creamy. Taste and adjust salt as necessary.
- Serve: Drizzle the finished dish with additional extra virgin olive oil and serve with extra parmesan cheese on the side.
Notes
- Zucchini can be fried and prepared up to 5 days ahead, stored in the refrigerator.
- Use fresh, good quality parmesan cheese for the best flavor and texture.
- If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water a little at a time to achieve desired creaminess.
- For a lighter version, you can bake the zucchini slices instead of frying, although frying is traditional.
- Make sure to slice zucchini thinly and uniformly for even cooking and optimal texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
