Lemon-Herb Zucchini Fettuccine

This was the perfect Italian dinner for our celebration of Italy :)

Ingredients

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 lemons
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil
1/2 pound fettuccine (that’s just 1/2 of a normal box)
2 medium zucchini
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (about)
5–6 cloves garlic
Fresh basil (about 1/2 cup)
*Fresh oregano (about 1/4 cup) If you don’t have fresh oregano, just add a little dried.
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper

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Instructions

Prepare grill. You could also do this on the stove top in a skillet, or a grill pan.

Place chicken in a zip-top bag with the juice of one lemon, a couple tablespoons of olive oil, and a couple tablespoons of red wine vinegar. Smoosh around and set bag aside while you get your other things ready. (If you’ve got time to spare, let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes, if you don’t, just take what you can get. I did mine for 15 min and it was great.)

Put the pot on the stove to boil water for the pasta. While you’re waiting for the water to boil, slice the zucchini in half length-wise. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Press, or finely mince garlic cloves. In a small sauce pan on the stove, place 1/4 cup olive oil and add garlic. Turn burner onto low-med heat. It shouldn’t be popping and frying, it should just slowly warm, infusing the oil with the garlic and removing that zing fresh garlic has.

When water boils, add pasta and a spoonful of salt.

Remove chicken from bag and salt and pepper both sides. Place chicken, and zucchini on grill.

While chicken and zucchini are grilling and pasta is boiling, chop herbs and get out cheese. Zest both lemons and juice the one that hasn’t been juiced.

Keep an eye on garlic. It should still look nice and white, not brown or crispy. Give it a stir. If it starts really cooking, just take it off the heat and set aside.

When zucchini and chicken are done, take them off the grill and chop them up.

Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water. Drain pasta and immediately place in a big bowl. Place chopped zucchini and chicken on top. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, cheese, herbs, and garlic-olive oil mixture and toss together.  If you feel it needs more moisture, add a little of the pasta water, or a little more olive oil.

Garnish with a little more Parmesan on top and another squeeze of lemon if you have any left and serve.