Lemon-Pepper Zucchini Pasta With Dill
Published August 12, 2025
- Total Time
- 35 minutes
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 25 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
Salt and black pepper
1 large zucchini, cut into ½-inch-thick half-moons
1 lemon
¼ cup chopped dill, plus more for garnish
1 pound spaghetti or linguine
¼ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons white miso
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 ounces pecorino, finely grated (about 3¼ cups)
Preparation
- Step 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. On a cutting board or in a bowl, sprinkle the zucchini with ½ teaspoon kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon fine salt. Toss to combine and let sit for at least 10 minutes (and up to 30 minutes) to draw out excess moisture.
- Step 2
Zest the lemon right into a medium bowl and add the dill and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Mix to combine. Cut the lemon into wedges.
- Step 3
Cook the pasta, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve 1½ cups pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Step 4
Meanwhile, pat the zucchini very dry. Heat a large, deep skillet over high, then add the oil. Add the zucchini, spread in an even layer and cook, undisturbed, until browned, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip the pieces and cook until tender yet crisp, about 1 minute longer. Transfer the zucchini to the bowl with the lemon zest and toss together.
- Step 5
Turn the heat down to medium and add the miso, butter, garlic and pasta water. Whisk until the miso dissolves and the liquid is simmering, 1 to 3 minutes. Add the pasta, pecorino and zucchini mixture. Cook, stirring vigorously with tongs, until the cheese melts and the sauce coats everything. Garnish with more dill and pepper, and serve with lemon wedges.
Private Notes
Comments
My recommendation is to double the zucchini, even triple for that amount of pasta. Also, I mixed some of the hot pasta water with the grated pecorino and stirred in off the heat because I’m terrified of the stringy cheese effect…haha
4 ounces of pecorino should be about one cup, not more than 3.
Delicious and simple — perfect timing since it’s zucchini season. I added garbanzo beans for extra protein.
The flavor was delicious but the cheese turned into a clumpy mess. The heat was turned off! What am I doing wrong? I suspect there’s a very specific technique here that I’m missing (same for carbonara or other pastas that turn cheese into a creamy sauce) Help please.
Delicious! I agreed 100% with other contributors that the zucchini should be doubled.
Great recipe! As others have noted, use more zucchini. Next time I will cut the lemon in thin slices and fry in olive oil before adding to pasta. I added shrimp and it was perfect!

