Grilled Garden Pasta

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/2 cup small fresh basil leaf
• 1/4 cup pine nuts or 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 1 -2 garlic clove, minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
• 6 ounces spaghetti
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 leeks or 2 vidalia onions
• 1 zucchini
• 2 medium tomatoes, sliced 3/4 inch thick

Recipe

• 1 in a bowl, combine basil, nuts, garlic and jalapeno pepper and lemon peel and set aside.
• 2 prepare the spaghetti according to the package. drain, toss with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. cover and keep warm.
• 3 meanwhile, prepare vegetables. if using leeks, trim the root and tough green leaves, halve the leeks lengthwise, and wash thoroughly. if using onions, cut into 3/4 inch slices. cut the zucchini into halves lengthwise, brush vegetables with olive oil.
• 4 heat a nonstick well seasoned grill pan (i prefer using my george foreman). if using a stove top grill, heat over medium heat until hot. add half the zucchini, onion and tomatoes to grill pan. grill about 5 minutes on each side until brown and tender. repeat with remaining vegetables.
• 5 if using a george foreman type grill, preheat. grill zuchini and onion together for 4 to 5 minutes, grill tomatoes for 2 to 3 minutes.
• 6 cut vegetables into bite sized chunks. swirl pasta into a large nest on a serving plate. transfer the vegetables onto the pasta nest. top with the basil/nut/spice mixture and serve.