Dinner Tonight: Whole Wheat Pasta with Julienned Zucchini

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, then cook the pasta until al dente. While the pasta is cooking, steam the zucchini strips in a colander or steaming basket over the water until tender but still slightly crunchy.

In the meantime, heat the olive oil in a small skillet over low heat until shimmering.

Add red pepper flakes and garlic and cook briefly until the garlic is fragrant and soft but not browned, 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta, then return the noodles to the pot.

Add the garlic mixture, zucchini, Parmesan, and basil. Toss well to combine, adding pasta water as needed to create a creamy sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve with more grated Parmesan.