Whole Grain Pasta with Zucchini, Tomatoes & Basil

Yield -4+

Pillar of Nutrition All in for Whole Grains & Eat the Rainbow

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Whole Grain Pasta with Zucchini, Tomatoes & Basil

Enjoy this super simple summery meal of whole wheat pasta and zucchini with tomatoes, basil full of fresh flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 12-ounce box whole grain penne or rotini pasta
• 4 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2-3 large cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 small zucchini, diced
• 2 yellow squash, diced
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 12-15 basil leaves, torn into strips
• ½ - 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt to taste

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Add the pasta to the pot and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
3. While the pasta is cooking, prep the vegetables and cheese. Peel and chop the garlic. Dice the zucchini and squash, then sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Tear basil into strips. Cut the tomatoes in half. Grate the cheese.
4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. (Be careful not to burn the garlic, which can happen quickly.)
5. Add zucchini and squash to the skillet and saute for an additional 3-4 minutes.
6. Add cherry tomatoes to the skillet and saute until skins are slightly blistered and tomatoes are heated through, about 3 - 4 minutes.
7. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the vegetables.
8. Toss with the basil and the Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Variations to Try

• Try summer squash instead of zucchini or a combination.  
• Add chopped grilled or roasted chicken 

Something to Chew On

• How many different cultures eat pasta as a staple?
• How many different types of tomatoes do you think there are?
• Are tomatoes a fruit or a vegetable?

Nutritional information is approximate guide only, calculated using an online nutrition calculator. The facts are based on one pancake using one tbsp of mixture. Yields about 12 -15 pancakes.

eat the rainbow, all in for whole grains, squash