I took Stanley Tucci's favourite pasta and made it broth

because I am ungovernable

A few weeks ago I decided to turn Stanley Tucci’s favourite pasta into a broth (well, his favourite pasta is spaghetti nerano but I didn’t have any spaghetti and we are taking a HEALTHY dose of loose interpretation with this recipe).

If you’ve read or watched any of Tucci’s food media, you’ll have heard his musings on the creamy, sweet simplicity of nerano - the lemony promise of something held in Summer, blooming through the scent of basil.

Staring down the barrel of some zucchini that needed using, I decided to make a pasta lunch THEN decided to follow the path of chaotic good and turn it into nerano brothy goodness.

Turns out people loved this. I have now been asked for the recipe hundreds of times and while I share it on request, I thought it best to store it here for ease of reference.

Buckle up, broth fiends, here’s how you make it.

Shopping list

• Two small zucchini (I used yellow zucchini)

• Basil

• Lemon zest

• Lemon juice

• Pasta (reserve some pasta water)

• Chicken broth

• Greek yogurt

• Basil

• Pepper

• Salt

• Olive oil

Method

1. Fry your zucchini in a decent amount of olive oil (reserve some for a fragrant oil to top the broth.

2. Remove and drain on paper towel.

3. Mix lemon zest and basil through hot zucchini (salt to taste).

4. Meanwhile cook pasta to packet instructions and reserve some pasta water.

5. Add your zucchini to hot drained pasta and add pasta water.

6. Stir vigorously until silky.

7. For the broth, blend 1 cup of hot chicken broth (let the steam escape so your blender doesn’t explode), two big tablespoons of Greek yogurt, juice of half a lemon and more zest.

8. Ladle over pasta and top with herbs, more lemon juice, pepper (salt if needed) and fragrant oil.

I almost didn’t share this recipe or video because it was just a funny little lunch I cobbled together but sometimes that sense of spontaneity - the whim, the urge, the craving - is what makes the kitchen magical and fun. ENJOYYYYY the comfort and chaos of cooking from the heart.

Yours in broth and the full flavours of living,

Tahlia xoxox (broth fiend)