Lemony Summer Linguine with Grilled Vegetables
I am so excited about this week’s #SundaySupper theme, Farmer’s Market and Local Foods. I’ve talked before about how critical access to fresh, affordable produce is for families who are struggling with poverty and hunger issues. In my neighborhood, most families shop at corner stores because they’re the most convenient option. Many families don’t have cars so they shop wherever they can walk. Have you shopped at a corner store lately? You usually won’t find anything green there, unless you count a pack of Double Mint Gum.
Thankfully, the community gardening movement and the rise of farmer’s markets that accept EBT cards have helped fill the gap and give families access to healthful, locally grown produce. In my zip code alone, there are at least a dozen community gardens. And, even more exciting, our neighborhood just opened a Cooperative Market where you can buy canned goods, dairy, breads, meats and fresh produce sourced from local farmers and entrepreneurs.
To me, shopping locally is a win for everyone. It supports small farmers. It boosts the local economy, encourages new business, and provides much-needed job opportunities. It has a lighter impact on the planet. You can find fun, unusual ingredients that often don’t make it to commercial grocery store shelves (pluot anyone?)
And, perhaps the best benefit of all, it tastes so darn good. You’re just not going to find a tomato that tastes better than the one that’s grown a few miles (or steps) from your house.
One of the reasons I am so thankful to live in Columbus is because we have such a vibrant local food scene. Many restaurants take care to source their ingredients from local farmers. Farmer’s markets have popped up in nearly every neighborhood in the city, and the shop local movement has taken on a life of its own with organizations like The Small Business Beanstalk leading the way.
Of course, shopping locally has it’s challenges in a city like Columbus. During the winter the selection is limited, and even though I love a good sweet potato, even I tire of them after a few months.
But the summer? The summer is a smorgasbord. Everywhere you look there are bright, juicy berries, zucchini the size of baseball bats, and corn on the cob just screaming for a pat of butter.
Summer is, in my opinion, the easiest season to cook. Dishes are simpler and cleaner, the flavors bright and unmuted by extras. Often a great dinner hinges on a single perfectly ripe vegetable. Seasonings get dialed back and are replaced with squeezes of lemon juice and sprinklings of fresh herb. Plates are bursting with colors–reds, oranges, greens, purples. No garnish is needed to make these dishes pop.
This Summer Linguine with Grilled Vegetables is one of those summer dishes I just can’t get enough of. It’s light and fresh, dressed simply with lemon juice, good quality olive oil, and a dusting of Parmesan cheese. The flavor stars here are the vegetables–charred on the edges, grilled just long enough to coax out their sweet undertones. Each bite has a slightly different feel in your mouth– a burst of tomato juice, the slight crunch of a red pepper, a silky noodle. You’ll want to slurp this pasta up, then go back for more.
The other great thing about this? It is endlessly adaptable. Add whatever tidbits are growing in your garden, experiment with different herbs. Use bowties or angel hair pasta. Go to the farmer’s market and pick the most beautiful vegetables you can find. Don’t forget to grab a school-bus yellow lemon and a block of Parmesan. That’s all you’ll need for one heck of a summer dinner.
Summer Linguine with Grilled Vegetables
Ingredients
- 10 oz. linguine
- 15 cherry tomatoes
- 1 squash, chopped in bite sized chunks
- 1 zucchini, chopped in bite sized chunks
- 1 red pepper, chopped
- 8 oz mushrooms
- 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
- Salt and Pepper
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 pinches red pepper
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup Assorted chopped fresh herbs
Instructions
Check out all the other ways that you can make the most out of your local farmer’s market finds by using the search bar at the top of the page, and search the phrase “Summer”.
A cause near and dear to my heart, Courtney. Thanks for sharing your story and refreshing recipe!
Such a light and fresh summer pasta. This looks delicious!
This is the perfect dinner, fresh and quick.
This linguine looks so fresh and tasty with all of those fresh veggies! I would love to have a plate of this in front of me… yum! And I’m so glad other people appreciate buying local like I do!
Hi, I found my way to you from Amazing Recipes on Facebook, and so glad I did! This pasta is gorgeous and sounds delicious. I’m pinning and hope to try it soon! Thank you!
I’m so glad you did too! Thanks for stopping by and for pinning! I hope you like this dish as much as we did!
Simple and flavorful and chock full of vegetables. LOVE it!
I feel slightly guilty that I actually have a backyard and could plant a garden…one of these days I’ll actually do it….now that the kids are old enough to help! 🙂
We actually cut waaaay back this year. I like to garden, but it’s a lot of work, and the schedule just wasn’t going to allow it this year. We did a couple tomatoes and pepper and herbs in pots instead and it’s been a lot more manageable.
How perfect! I love simple pastas. Putting on my menu for next week and pinning ;}
happy day!
Great! Let me know how you like it!
I totally agree with everything you just said about shopping locally, Courtney. I’m lucky to live somewhere where the produce is incredible and varied and delicious, for most of the year. I adore your summer linguine – just looking at it makes me want to sit out in the sun, with a giant bowl of this in my lap and a glass of cold, crisp white wine nearby. You should fly here to escape that horrible weather you’re having. A sweatshirt at the carnival is a sad state of events!
Oh that sounds just perfect. Wanna come over?
It sounds like a great community you live in that supports local growers well. Beautiful grilled vegetables all over that pasta. I can imagine it taste fantastic warm or cold. Just delicious!
It does! Leftovers are wonderful straight from the fridge. 🙂
Yum, this is my favorite way to eat in the summer! I’m doing it tonight with some gemelli pasta, zucchinni, summer squash, baby tomatoes, basil, and ricotta. Oh, and OF COURSE, some lemon 🙂
Beautiful photos, by the way!
Thanks Lori! Ricotta sounds like a great addition for a little extra creaminess. I’ll have to remember that next time!
I saw this in my feed early this morning and have been dying to get over here all day to check out the recipe! It just looks divine – I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks so much! That’s one of the things I love about Sunday Supper–seeing everyone’s dishes beforehand and anticipating them!
Oh my. If I didn’t already have dinner in the oven, this would be dinner tonight. I love this. And I totally agree – summer is the easiest season, and is perfect for simple dishes that allow the season’s produce shine.
My thoughts exactly.
I agree that summer is the easiest season to cook! This dish just screams that beautiful summer bounty. 🙂
Bless you, Courtney, for touching upon issues vital to a life which gives everyone a fighting chance for happiness. On a lighter note, your linguine reminds me of the finer pasta served in Italian restaurants in Tokyo =)
P.s. I’m sure you’ve got boxes full of sweet potato recipes but if you ever run out, I’ve got many yummy ones =)
P.s.2. My husband’s cousins live right outside of Cleveland and one Christmas we saw deer in their backyard. It was a thrill! (I suppose Columbus is more cosmopolitan so no Rudolphs.)
Surprisingly enough, we actually do see deer in Columbus every now and then. The deer population is huge around here, so every now and then you’ll see them wondering by the railroad tracks or the side of the freeway. It’s totally bizarre. Thanks for all your kind words!
Seriously wishing I could reach in the screen and grab that plate. Such a beautiful pasta.
I can’t wait to make this! I even have all the stuff in the backyard and fridge!
Perfect! I love when that happens.
This looks so delicious. What a beautiful blog you have, and the photos are gorgeous. Here’s another recipe that I can use with my bumper crop of cherry tomatoes!
Thank you so much. And yes, it’s a great recipe to use up whatever is coming up in your garden!
That is pretty as a picture, Courtney! I love the colors and the flavors! One thing that has struck me in everyone’s farmers’ market posts today is the vibrancy of the colors. Gotta be some good vitamins in all this fresh produce!
For sure…it’s one of my favorite things about dishes like these!
My mouth is watering y’all! This is some yummy in your tummy goodness.
What a gorgeous pasta dish!!! I’ll have a big bowl, then come back for seconds!
Great local markets are the best thing to happen to a neighbourhood. And btw, can I come over and have lunch with you? Love this dish!
Ummm yes please! That would be lovely. 🙂
Your linguine looks incredible! The pictures are gorgeous! I would love to have a plate of this for dinner!
This sounds like such a perfect summer dish