with Lemon Parm Sauce, Bell Pepper, Zucchini & Peas

Yield: 2

Al dente penne pasta, green peas, and roasted bell pepper and zucchini, all tossed in a creamy sauce that’s seasoned with lemon juice and aromatic with Italian herbs, then showered with grated Parmesan.
Prep: 10 Cook: 30

• 1red bell pepper
• 1lemon
• 4oz cream sauce base
• 4oz peas
• 1zucchini
• 2scallions
• 10oz shrimp or chicken
• 6oz penne pasta
• 1TBS Tuscan heat spice (see below)
  
• 2TBS crème fraîche
• 1veggie stock concentrate
• 3TBS parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper
• 1tsp olive oil
• 1tsp cooking oil
• 1TBS butter

Prep:

Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 450°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce.

Halve, core, and thinly slice bell pepper. Trim and halve zucchini lengthwise, slice crosswise into ½-inch-thick half-moons. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens. Zest and quarter lemon.

Roast veggies:

Toss bell pepper and zucchini on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on top rack until tender and lightly charred, 15-18 minutes. While veggies roast, rinse shrimp under cold water. Pat shrimp or chicken dry with paper towels, season with salt and pepper. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add shrimp or chicken in a single layer, cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, 3- to 5-minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Cook pasta:

Once water is boiling, add penne to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes.

Reserve 1½ cups pasta cooking water, then drain.

Make sauce:

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in pot used for pasta over medium heat. Add scallion whites and 1 tsp Tuscan Heat Spice, cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Whisk in cream sauce base, stock concentrate, and ¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, 2- to 3-minutes.

Reduce heat to medium low and whisk in crème fraîche until smooth.

Toss pasta:

Add drained penne, peas, half the Parmesan (save the rest for serving), half the lemon zest, 1 TBS butter, and a big squeeze of lemon juice to pot with sauce. Cook, stirring, until butter has melted and penne is coated in a creamy sauce.

Tip: If needed, stir in more reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time.

Stir in roasted veggies. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add more lemon zest or lemon juice if you like. Stir in shrimp or chicken along with roasted veggies.

Tip: For an extra-rich experience, stir in another 1 TBS butter.

Serve:

Divide pasta between plates or shallow bowls. Top with scallion greens and remaining Parmesan. Serve with any remaining lemon wedges on the side.

Tuscan Heat Spice

Makes 1 TBS

• 1tsp dried basil
• 1/2tsp dried rosemary
• 1/2tsp dried oregano
• 1/2tsp garlic powder
• 1/4tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4tsp ground fennel