Saffron & Tomato Bucatini Pasta with Summer Squash & Basil

Saffron & Tomato Bucatini Pasta

with Summer Squash & Basil

30 MIN
2 Servings
Wellness at Blue Apron
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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.
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From the Test Kitchen

This sophisticated pasta dish celebrates the bright flavors of summer with a robust sauce of charm tomatoes and sautéed summer squash (you may receive green zucchini, grey zucchini, or yellow squash). Garlic and red pepper flakes liven up the sauce, while a pinch of saffron adds a complex aromatic finish. (Seasoning your tomatoes during prep helps draw out their fresh flavor, which makes for quick and easy cooking!)

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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    600 Cals (est.)
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fresh
ingredients
time-saving
tips & techniques
Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Quarter the squash lengthwise; cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick pieces. Peel and roughly chop the garlic. Halve the tomatoes and place in a bowl; season with salt and pepper.

Cook the pasta:
2 Cook the pasta:

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

Cook the squash:
3 Cook the squash:

While the pasta cooks, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the squash. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the aromatics:
4 Add the aromatics:

To the pan, add the garlic and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the tomato paste; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until dark red and fragrant. Add the seasoned tomatoes and cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened and heated through. Turn off the heat.

Finish the pasta:
5 Finish the pasta:

Pick the basil leaves off the stems; discard the stems. To the pot of cooked pasta, add the cooked squash and aromatics, saffron, butter, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring vigorously, 2 to 3 minutes, or until thoroughly coated. (If the sauce seems dry, gradually add the remaining pasta cooking water to achieve your desired consistency.) Turn off the heat; stir in half the basil (tearing the leaves just before adding). Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Plate your dish:
6 Plate your dish:

Divide the finished pasta between 2 dishes. Garnish with the cheese and remaining basil (tearing the leaves just before adding). Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

1 Prepare the ingredients:

Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Quarter the squash lengthwise; cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick pieces. Peel and roughly chop the garlic. Halve the tomatoes and place in a bowl; season with salt and pepper.

2 Cook the pasta:

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

Cook the squash:
3 Cook the squash:

While the pasta cooks, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the squash. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper.

4 Add the aromatics:

To the pan, add the garlic and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the tomato paste; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until dark red and fragrant. Add the seasoned tomatoes and cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened and heated through. Turn off the heat.

Add the aromatics:
Finish the pasta:
5 Finish the pasta:

Pick the basil leaves off the stems; discard the stems. To the pot of cooked pasta, add the cooked squash and aromatics, saffron, butter, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring vigorously, 2 to 3 minutes, or until thoroughly coated. (If the sauce seems dry, gradually add the remaining pasta cooking water to achieve your desired consistency.) Turn off the heat; stir in half the basil (tearing the leaves just before adding). Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6 Plate your dish:

Divide the finished pasta between 2 dishes. Garnish with the cheese and remaining basil (tearing the leaves just before adding). Enjoy!

Plate your dish:
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