Spaghetti Alla Nerano

Spaghetti alla Nerano is a creamy and comforting pasta dish featuring spaghetti tossed in a Provolone del Monaco cheese (we are substituting the easier to find Caciocavallo), zucchini, and butter sauce, and topped with lightly fried zucchini discs, basil, and more Caciocavallo.  The perfect simple pasta for summer nights when you have a shortage of time, and an abundance of zucchini!

Stanley Tucci may have popularized this Spaghetti alla Nerano in his Searching for Italy series, but this dish has always been a regular in my home.  

Growing up, my grandmother would make this for us on the regular.  She called it “Fried Zucchini Pasta”. 

I can still remember coming in for dinner after playing soccer all day.  Sweaty and starving, she’d place a bowl of this in front of me and tell me to eat.  As if I needed any coaxing.  

She’d make this using zucchini she grew in our yard, and it always tasted like summer, with a touch of magic.  

Spaghetti alla Nerano origin

I always knew that fried zucchini pasta was something special, but what I didn’t know was its origin. 

I actually thought my grandmother invented the dish, to be honest.

But Spaghetti all Nerano originated in 1952 in a restaurant owned by Maria Grazia in the beach town, Nerano, on the Sorrentine peninsula in southern Italy.  

Ingredient variations

The original dish may have included a cheese that is local to Nerano, named Provolone del Monaco.  

This cheese is not easy to find in the US, which is why I opt for Caciocavallo which can be found in Italian grocery stores, and specialty markets in the New York metro area.  

If you cannot find Caciocavallo, you can use high-quality mild provolone. 

Alternatively, since this dish is so similar to Cacio e Pepe, but with zucchini, Pecorino Romano would be a perfectly suitable substitution.

As far as zucchini go, home grown are the best for this recipe. 

But not everyone has access to grow it themselves, so grocery store or farmer’s market zucchini are absolutely fine. 

I strongly recommend using the smallest zucchini you can find.  They will be more tender, have less seeds, less water, and just plain taste better.

I do use a small knob of butter in my Spaghetti alla Nerano, however, you could omit if you’d like.

How to make it

Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.

1. Begin by slicing the zucchini (about 5 medium to small zucchini)  into 3/16″ discs.  
2. Grate 1 1/4 cups of Caciocavallo cheese and set it aside.

3. In a frying pan, sear the zucchini in olive oil until golden brown, about three minutes per side.  This should be done in batches to prevent overcrowding.  If you have the means, consider using multiple pans to speed up the frying time.  Tip:  If you are using a stainless steel pan as I did (pictured above), allow the pan to heat up for a few minutes before adding the oil.  This will ensure a non-stick surface.  
4. Remove the zucchini and place on a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.  At this stage, sprinkle the zucchini with salt.   The hot zucchini will more readily absorb the salt and taste better!
5. For the pasta, fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt, add your spaghetti, and cook until al dente.  In a large, clean pan, saute the garlic in olive oil over medium-low heat.  Once golden, remove the garlic from the pan and either discard, or just eat them if you desire!  
6. Add the butter to the olive oil. 

7. Add half the zucchini to the pan.
8. Add a ladle of pasta water and bring to a simmer.  Mash the zucchini with a wooden spoon on the side of the pan to create a loose zucchini sauce.  
9. Remove the al dente pasta with tongs from the pasta water so it is still wet, and add to the pan with the zucchini sauce.  Cook for an additional minute or so, making sure to not overcook the pasta.  
10. Turn off the heat and add the Caciocavallo cheese.  Toss to emulsify and form a creamy sauce.  If the pasta is too dry at this stage, add a few tablespoons of pasta water at a time, then toss once more, to get a perfect consistency.

11. Taste test and make any final adjustments to salt or pepper levels, then add in the parsley or basil.  
12. Give the pasta a quick toss, then plate and serve immediately.  Top each individual plate with the remaining zucchini rounds, and more Caciocavallo, or Pecorino Romano cheese.  Enjoy!

How to create a creamy (not clumpy) sauce for spaghetti alla Nerano

I mentioned above that fried zucchini pasta is similar to cacio e pepe, and that is mainly because of the method in which it is made.  

Contrary to some belief, cacio e pepe does not contain any cream.  Just cheese and pasta water.  

The pasta alla Nerano is different in that it contains a small amount of butter, but that doesn’t change the similarities in cooking method, known as mantecare, to create the emulsification.

Be sure to remove the pan from the heat prior to adding the cheese.  

Once the cheese is added, toss to emulsify.  This will help prevent the cheese from clumping. 

Adding some of the cooled-down pasta water will also help to loosen the cheese. 

You can even use cool tap water.  Cheese tends to clump with boiling water, but not nearly as much with cooler water.

For visual instructions on making spaghetti alla Nerano, I encourage you to watch my YouTube video where I demonstrate how to get this perfect.

If you’ve never tossed a pan of pasta, I encourage you to learn how to do so since it is key for creating the emulsification you need for this dish and so many others.  

Practice with uncooked dried pasta (such as rigatoni), or uncooked dried beans in a pan, until you feel comfortable. 

And getting splashed and losing some pasta or sauce is what cooking is all about.  

More zucchini recipes

If you’re here reading this Spaghetti alla Nerano recipe, you are probably a fan of zucchini.  And if you love zucchini, you’ve come to the right place.

I love zucchini and use it for many things.  Some of my favorite zucchini recipes are listed below.

• Zucchini rollatini – inspired by the more widely known eggplant rollatini that is equally tasty.
• Sweet and sour zucchini – also known as zucchini agrodolce.
• Zucchini stuffed with ricotta – lemony ricotta goodness stuffed in zucchini halves – doesn’t get any better!
• Zucchini bruschetta – with whipped lemon ricotta, caciocavallo, basil, and flaky sea salt.
• Italian zucchini fritters – golden and fried to perfection, this is a hugely popular appetizer. 
• Zucchini alla parmigiana – roasted zucchini topped with mozzarella, marinara, and parmesan cheese.

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Watch the video below where Jim will show you how to make this recipe with easy to follow instructions.  Some people learn by watching.  If you’re that type of person, you can find most of our recipes on YouTube and our Facebook Page.