Courgette & Basil Pasta

I realised when I came to cook this that I hadn't cooked something a little different or really spent any time in the kitchen cooking a nice dinner for us in ages.  I reckon its down to the hot weather we have had so we just ate salads all the time and the fact that I am just so tired once I get home from work.

Anyway - Monday last week I was feeling great.  I'm talking energetic, happy, no hormonal outbursts - just pretty human.  So I decided I had to do something with the home-grown courgettes we were given and decided on a yummy pasta to end off my fabulous feeling Monday.

Courgette & Basil Pasta (Serves 4)

Ingredients

♥ 2 large courgettes, grated
♥ 250g pasta
♥ Olive oil for frying
♥ garlic clove, minced
♥ 1 onion, finely chopped (I used a pepper as we had no onions)
♥ 250g pot of creme fraiche
♥ 25g parmesan cheese
♥ Small bunch of basil leaves
♥ Large chunk of ciabatta bread
(I also used some sweet Santini tomatoes - trying to up my veg intake as much as I can)

Cook the pasta, drain and toss with some olive oil and set aside.
Fry the grated courgettes in some oil with the garlic and simmer until all the liquid has reduced.
Add in the onion (or pepper) and this is when I added my tomatoes too and cook for a few minutes.
Add some seasoning and 3/4 of the creme fraiche along with half the parmesan.
Mix in the cooked pasta and stir well, pour the whole lot into your ovenproof dish.
Dollop over the rest of the creme fraiche.

In a processor, whizz together the bread, remaining parmesan and basil leaves until it resembles fine breadcrumbs (you can also add some pine nuts in here too!).
Spread the crumbs evenly over your pasta mixture and pop in the oven for about 15 minutes until golden brown.

This really was light and yummy and a perfect dish if you want something quick and healthy. I just love creme fraiche.

Enjoy ♥

P.S. Watch out for a giveaway (open worldwide!) next week with Bear and Robot plus a surprise for all my readers!