I have always loved pastas, especially those that originated from Italy. This recipe is shared to us by Gina DePalma, who has a first hand experience from an Italian eatery in the Umbrian town of Orvieto. She described the dish as “Here, the cheese melts into a silky veil of nutty, buttery flavor over the pasta, and its more assertive flavors mellow softly in the background.”

Ingredients: (serves 4)

2 medium zucchini (about 1/2 a pound)

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium shallot, finely chopped

1 large rib of celery, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 pound farfalle, or another pasta shape

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

4 ounces Gorgonzola, piccante or dolce, cut in pieces

2 tablespoons minced parsley

2 large sprigs basil, finely julienned

Procedure:

1. Place 4 quarts of water in a large pot, season with salt and bring to a boil.

2. Wash the zucchini and trim the ends, then grate them on the largest side of a box grater and set aside.

3. In a large saucepan, heat the oil and butter and sauté the shallot and celery over medium heat, stirring, until the vegetables soften and begin to turn translucent. Add the minced garlic and continue cooking for another minute. Add the zucchini to the pan and sauté until the zucchini begins to soften and wilt.

4. In the meantime, add the pasta to the boiling water and stir occasionally as the pasta cooks.

5. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. When the pasta is almost al dente, add the lemon juice, 1/4 of a cup of the pasta cooking water and the cheese to the pan, stirring to melt the cheese. Stir in the parsley and basil and let the mixture simmer gently for a moment or two.

6. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water in case it is needed; add the pasta to the pan with the sauce and toss to coat it completely. Let the pasta cook in the pan for a minute, adding a splash of the reserved cooking water if the sauce seems too tight. Transfer to a warm bowl and serve immediately.

You can use two kinds of gorgonzola for this recipe: there’s the Piccante and the Dolce. The Piccante has a more pronounced blue flavor while the Dolce makes for a milder sauce. Be sure to use gorgonzola because other kinds of blue cheese might ruin the dish for you.