double tomato and courgette pasta

i've been trying out a lot of new ideas for pasta recipes recently. i find pasta a really good quick and easy supper option and am especially keen to develop recipes which include a good number of vegetables so i get my five portions a day.

this dish was inspired by a photo I saw of a friend's supper, and was really delicious - courgette discs cooked rapidly so they soften a little and brown in places, a real depth of flavour provided the sundried tomatoes (i'm still using up a big bag i bought in italy last autumn) and the freshness of barely cooked cherry tomatoes, lemon and basil.

this dish is my contribution to presto pasta nights which, this week, is being hosted by ruth at once upon a feast.

double tomato and courgette pasta (serves 2)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 largeclove garlic, crushed

2 courgettes, cut into discs

a handful of sundried tomatoes, softened in boiling water and cut into thin strips

juice of half a lemon

15-20 cherry tomatoes, halved

a handful of basil leaves, shredded

1 tablespoon of toasted pine nuts

pasta for two - i used penne

put your pasta on to cook. fry the garlic in olive oil and when you start being able to smell it add the courgette. turn the heat up and cook stirring regularly, until the courgette begins to soften. keep the heat high and add the sundried tomatoes and lemon juice and cook for a few minutes. when the courgette is sufficiently cooked for you add the cherry tomatoes, basil and pine nuts. remove from the heat, mix with the pasta and serve with parmesan shavings.