The ‘I-Have-No-Time-To-Make-Pasta-Sauce’ Sauce: Green Diva Edition

Expectations:

When my husband brought home fresh pasta,  he brought home a lot of it…like three days worth of pasta. He knows I prefer to make my own sauces and with a little imagination, just about anything can become a ‘sauce’ for pasta. I know, I know… pasta purists are cringing right now, as this is not even close to traditional sauce. However, it’s delicious and lightening fast for a weeknight!

Time: Even with the chopping this should take less than 15 minutes, all-in.

Serves: 2 adults. This can easily be doubled if you have more sauce-eaters in your home.

Kid modifications:  My daughter loves zucchini however, both kids prefer fresh vegetables at this stage to a ‘sauce’ so I served them both veggies ‘on the side.’

Chopping board with vegetables for the green diva pasta sauce

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• One quarter cup of extra virgin olive oil.
• 2 cups of zucchini chopped into 1 inch pieces (about 1 large zucchini)
• 1 cup of fresh baby spinach.
• 2 or 3 fresh garlic cloves, diced or sliced thinly.
• 2 tablespoons of fresh basil (cut into thin slices and then chopped)
• About 1/2 tsp. of kosher salt (or to taste)
• Optional:  Freshly ground black pepper, 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. (or to taste)
• Optional:  For a ‘saucier sauce’ add about 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid from the pasta after it’s finished.

Steps To Put This On Your Table:

1. Warm the extra virgin olive oil in a, saucepan at least one or two inches deep over low to medium heat.
2. Add the zucchini and garlic and increase heat to medium heat, stirring constantly, until the garlic becomes fragrant and the zucchini softens and changes to a slightly darker green. Keep the garlic moving so it does not take on too much color. The olive oil will also deepen in color, this all takes about 6 – 8  minutes.
3. If using the pasta liquid, add it along with the basil and baby spinach, and simmer for another 2 minutes.
4. Add the salt and pepper if using.
5. Enjoy!

Sauteed garlic, zucchini, spinach & basil for green diva sauce

I-Don’t-Have-Time-To-Make-Sauce: Green Diva Edition