Linguine With Zucchini, Corn and Shrimp

Updated June 17, 2025

Linguine With Zucchini, Corn and Shrimp
Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Maggie Ruggiero.
Total Time
30 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Rating
5(1,294)
Comments
Read comments

This super fast and super easy summer pasta recipe barely cooks peak-season corn and zucchini, maintaining their freshness and crunch while highlighting their vibrant flavor. This  same quick-cooking method is applied to the shrimp, which keeps its bite by spending little time in the pan. (While corn and zucchini turn mushy if overcooked, shrimp turns tough and rubbery.) Finishing off this summer pasta is a shower of fresh basil and mint, which cling to each glossy strand of linguine. Feel free to add whatever vegetables and herbs catch your eye at the market. This pasta is best eaten al fresco. 

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
    Subscribe
  • Print Options


Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 Servings 
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1pound linguine or other long pasta 
  • 1pound medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed (about 20 shrimp)
  • 4tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4tablespoons olive oil
  • 6garlic cloves, minced
  • 1medium shallot or ½ medium onion, minced 
  • Red-pepper flakes 
  • 1large zucchini, cut into ¼-inch rounds, then each round cut into quarters 
  • 2cups corn kernels (2 to 3 large ears)
  • ¼cup chopped fresh mint, for garnishing 
  • ¼cup chopped fresh basil, for garnishing
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Cooking Newsletter illustration

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large pasta pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to the packaging directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot.

  2. Step 2

    Meanwhile, pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel and season with salt. In a separate large pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter into 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook until just opaque, about 2 minutes per side. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to extract shrimp and set aside.

  3. Step 3

    Maintaining medium-high heat, add the garlic, shallot and a pinch each of salt, black pepper and red pepper, stirring constantly until the garlic is fragrant and shallot is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes. Add corn along with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and a pinch of salt; stir to coat. Cook until the corn is bright yellow and warm, about 2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the vegetables, they should maintain their crispness.

  4. Step 4

    Add pasta to the pot with the vegetables, followed by the shrimp, ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir to combine, reheating the shrimp while creating a glossy sauce, for about 90 seconds. Remove from heat and add chopped mint and basil and stir. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve immediately.

Ratings

5 out of 5
1,294 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

A suggestion for prepping your zucchini: Cut it in half from top to bottom, then use a grapefruit spoon to scoop out the pulp and seeds from the center and discard, as you would remove the center of a melon or squash. Slice the zucchini and sauté as per the instructions. Removing the seeds and watery pulp intensifies the flavor of the zucchini and makes it easer to get a little of that Maillard reaction browning around the edges.

Fantastic recipe (pasta, shrimp, fresh corn, zucc and more)+ great suggestions from NYT readers = 5 Stars! Used 3/4 lb. pasta, added 1 pint of halved cherry tomatoes, 1/4 t red pepper flakes, 1 T lemon juice, zest of 1 lemon, splash of white wine to deglaze the pan at Step 3.

I find that most NYT recipes assume that everything is prepped before you start. Even if that's not the case, the truth is I have never been able to make these recipes in the time suggested. I know that ahead of time and can pretty much figure out how long it will take me.

Why long pasta? With so many chunky elements, I tend to think short pasta would be better.

I know I'm in the minority, but I loathe corn except ground up as masa or polenta, as corn chips or tortillas. I substituted one can of garbanzo beans and was quite happy. Another time I might use crookneck squash and spinach.

Added lemon juice at the very end, loved it

Private comments are only visible to you.

Credits

By Dan Pelosi

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.