Creamy Acini Di Pepe Recipe With Zucchini & Parmesan (5 Ingredients, 15 Minutes) Side Dishes Pasta Italian Recipes Low Sodium Recipes Budget Recipes Dinner Vegetarian Vegetables

Tired of the same ol' rice or potato side dishes? Try this easy acini di pepe recipe with zucchini and Parmesan. This Italian side dish is quick, easy, creamy and loaded with flavor. What is acini di pepe? Acini di pepe is a form of pasta and means "grains of pepper" in Italian.

Here is your short five-ingredient shopping list for this creamy acini di pepe recipe: acini di pepe, a fresh zucchini (check out the health benefits of zucchini), a lemon for juicing and zesting, butter and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Cook the acini di pepe according to package directions and drain well. Stir in the shredded or grated zucchini, butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and Parmesan cheese. Season with black pepper and stir well to combine. Done!

And guess what? If you have a picky eater, he or she won't even know the zucchini is there. Serve this Italian acini di pepe as a side dish or a vegetarian main dish. The leftovers reheat well for dinner or lunch the next day, too. 

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 to 9 minutes
Total Time: 9 to 14 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup acini di pepe
• 1 zucchini, finely shredded using a grater
• juice and zest from 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Here's how to make it:

1. Cook acini di pepe according to package directions, about 4 to 9 minutes. Drain well. (If you can't find acini di pepe, you could substitute orzo or pastina.)
2. Add zucchini, butter, lemon juice, lemon zest and Parmesan. Mix well. (If you can, squeeze fresh lemon juice. Fresh is always best.)
3. Season with black pepper, to taste. Serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the microwave.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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