Follow these simple steps to assemble your delicious and cooling pasta bowls. The process is quick and straightforward, with minimal cooking involved.

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt (it should taste like the sea). Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente—firm to the bite. It’s important not to overcook the pasta, as it can become mushy when served cold.
2. Reserve Pasta Water & Chill Pasta: Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. This is a magic ingredient for adjusting the sauce consistency later. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse it under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
3. Prepare the Zucchini: While the pasta is cooking, prepare your zucchini. Using a vegetable peeler or a spiralizer, create long ribbons or “zoodles.” Place them in a large serving bowl.
4. Make the No-Cook Basil Sauce: In the bowl of a food processor or a high-speed blender, combine the 2 packed cups of fresh basil, ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, ¼ cup of pine nuts, the chopped garlic cloves, and the zest of one lemon. Pulse a few times to break everything down.
5. Emulsify the Sauce: With the food processor or blender running on low, slowly stream in the ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil. Continue blending until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add the juice of the lemon and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper. Blend one final time to combine.
6. Taste and Adjust: Taste the sauce. This is your chance to perfect it. Does it need more salt? A little more lemon juice for brightness? A crack of black pepper? Adjust as needed. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water (or plain cold water) to thin it to your desired consistency.
7. Combine Everything: To the large bowl containing the zucchini ribbons, add the cooled pasta and the halved cherry tomatoes. Pour the beautiful green basil sauce over everything.
8. Toss and Serve: Gently toss all the ingredients together until the pasta, zucchini, and tomatoes are evenly coated in the sauce. Garnish with the extra toasted pine nuts and a sprinkle of additional grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, or chill for 30 minutes for an even more refreshing meal.