Saffron Pasta with Summer Vegetables & Spicy Breadcrumbs
Quick & Easy

Saffron Pasta

with Summer Vegetables & Spicy Breadcrumbs

20 MIN
2 Servings
Wellness at Blue Apron
Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.
Vegetarian
These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.
Carb Conscious
These meals have 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. They replace refined carbohydrates from sources like white flour, rice, and cane sugar with high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
600 Calories Or Less
Coming in at 600 calories or less per serving, these recipes are ideal for those choosing to monitor their caloric intake without sacrificing flavor. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.
Wellness Grain
These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.
Pescatarian
These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.
To view a recipe's full nutrition information, head to your Upcoming page at blueapron.com, click on a specific recipe, then head to the Nutrition tab and select 'View Full Nutrition.' Nutrition Facts Panels are available up to 1.5 weeks in advance

From the Test Kitchen

We’re giving this fast, bright summer pasta a few sophisticated twists: a pinch of saffron for complex flavor, and a garnish of breadcrumbs (pan-toasted with a touch of red pepper flakes) for crispy texture.

Get Plans
  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    590 Cals (est.)
View Full Nutrition
Nutrition Label
Download

Please note nutritional information, including ingredients and allergens, may differ from above based on your location. Location-specific nutritional information is available for viewing upon subscribing, or by logging in if you are already a subscriber.

fresh
ingredients
Saffron Pasta with Summer Vegetables & Spicy Breadcrumbs
Title
time-saving
tips & techniques
Saffron
Tomato
Red Pepper Flakes
How To: Peel Garlic
Panko Breadcrumbs
Zucchini
How To: Safely Cut Round Vegetables
Garlic
Butter
step-by-step
instructions
Cook Along Triangle Created with Sketch.
Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Quarter the zucchini lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4- inch pieces. If necessary, peel the garlic, then roughly chop. Quarter the tomatoes; place in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; stir to coat.

Cook the pasta:
2 Cook the pasta:

Add the pasta to the pot of boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

Make the spicy breadcrumbs:
3 Make the spicy breadcrumbs:

While the pasta cooks, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the breadcrumbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until combined. Transfer to a plate and immediately season with salt and pepper. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the vegetables:
4 Cook the vegetables:

While the pasta continues to cook, in the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the chopped garlic, seasoned tomatoes, and saffron. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened and combined. Turn off the heat.

Finish the pasta & serve your dish:
5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish:

Add the cooked vegetables, butter, and half the reserved pasta cooking water to the pot of cooked pasta. Cook on medium-high, stirring vigorously, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated. If the pasta seems dry, gradually add the remaining cooking water to achieve your desired consistency. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the finished pasta garnished with the spicy breadcrumbs. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

Get Plans

Saffron Pasta

Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Quarter the zucchini lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4- inch pieces. If necessary, peel the garlic, then roughly chop. Quarter the tomatoes; place in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; stir to coat.

2 Cook the pasta:

Add the pasta to the pot of boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

Cook the pasta:
Make the spicy breadcrumbs:
3 Make the spicy breadcrumbs:

While the pasta cooks, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the breadcrumbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until combined. Transfer to a plate and immediately season with salt and pepper. Wipe out the pan.

4 Cook the vegetables:

While the pasta continues to cook, in the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the chopped garlic, seasoned tomatoes, and saffron. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened and combined. Turn off the heat.

Cook the vegetables:
Finish the pasta & serve your dish:
5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish:

Add the cooked vegetables, butter, and half the reserved pasta cooking water to the pot of cooked pasta. Cook on medium-high, stirring vigorously, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated. If the pasta seems dry, gradually add the remaining cooking water to achieve your desired consistency. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the finished pasta garnished with the spicy breadcrumbs. Enjoy!

Browse Steps
1 of 5