Zucchini-and-Fennel Pasta

A perfect pairing of seasoned crisp-tender zucchini and fennel makes a good mix with curly pasta.

Ingredients

• 1 pound curly-edged, long-cut pasta, such as long fusilli or mafalde
• About 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 4 anchovy fillets
• 1 small bulb fennel—a handful of feathery fronds reserved and the bulb trimmed, quartered, cored and very thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 pound small, firm zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced on an angle crosswise
• 1 red chile, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon fennel pollen or fennel seeds
• Juice of 1 lemon, plus 1 teaspoon grated peel
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, shredded or torn
• Freshly grated Pecorino-Romano cheese
• 1/3 pound ricotta salata cheese, crumbled

Preparation

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving a ladleful of the pasta cooking water.

While the pasta is working, in a large skillet, heat the EVOO, 4 turns of the pan, over medium heat. Add the anchovies to melt into the oil completely, 2-3 minutes. Add the fennel bulb, zucchini, chile, garlic, fennel pollen or seeds and lemon peel; cook until crisp-tender, 5-6 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and the reserved pasta cooking water. Add the pasta and toss to combine; mix in the basil.

Serve the pasta in shallow bowls. Top with lots of fennel fronds, the Pecorino-Romano and ricotta salata.