• Cooking Time: 15
• Servings: 4
• Preparation Time: 5
• 450 g of cavatelli (or any other pasta of your choice)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large leek (with green parts also), chopped
• ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (use less if you don't like spicy food)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 large zucchini, grated (or chopped)
• 1 sweet pepper, chopped
• A few handfuls of basil, chopped
• ⅓ cup grated Pecorino or mozzarella cheese or crumbled tofu (optional)

1. Cook cavatelli; drain, reserving ¾ cup pasta cooking liquid (only if using cavatelli).
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leek and red pepper flakes; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini and sweet pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes.
5. Toss in pasta and reserved pasta cooking liquid (only if using cavatelli); cook until sauce coats pasta, about 2 minutes. Toss in Pecorino (or cheese or crumbled tofu). Add a bit of basil on each plate before serving.

FEATURING: Leeks, zucchini, peppers and basil. A slightly adapted recipe from Bon Appétit (picture on the left) that I like to make when I don't have much time and am looking for a light meal (perfect on a hot summer day). I make it on any pasta that I have at hand (if not using cavatelli- I just forgo reserving and using the pasta cooking liquid) and I often just chop the zucchini (instead of grating it- see my picture on the right). SEE ORIGINAL RECIPE HERE: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/spicy-cavatelli-with-zucchini-and-leeks