Ditalini with Air-Fried Vegetables (Printable version)

Tender ditalini paired with air-fried vegetables and light olive oil dressing for a quick, vibrant main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz ditalini pasta
02 - Salt, for pasta water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small zucchini, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, chopped
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 cup broccoli florets
08 - 2 tbsp olive oil
09 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
10 - ½ tsp salt
11 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Dressing & Finish

12 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
13 - 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley
15 - Zest of ½ lemon
16 - Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
02 - In a large bowl, toss zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli with olive oil, dried Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Place vegetables in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until tender and lightly browned.
04 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ditalini pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
05 - In a large serving bowl, mix the drained pasta with the air-fried vegetables. Add extra-virgin olive oil, grated Parmesan, lemon zest, and chopped fresh basil or parsley.
06 - Toss all ingredients together, adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning.
07 - Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan and red pepper flakes if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It turns whatever vegetables you have into something deeply flavorful without heating up the whole kitchen.
  • The air fryer gives you those crispy, charred edges that make vegetables irresistible, even to picky eaters.
  • It comes together in about half an hour, which means dinner can be ready before you even think about ordering takeout.
  • The lemon zest and fresh herbs make it taste bright and intentional, not like leftovers at all.
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket or the vegetables will steam instead of roast, and you'll miss out on those crispy, caramelized edges.
  • Reserve some pasta water before draining, it's the secret to making the dressing cling to every piece of pasta without adding extra oil.
  • Toss everything while the pasta is still hot so the Parmesan melts slightly and the flavors blend together beautifully.
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables to a similar size so they cook at the same rate and nothing ends up burnt or undercooked.
  • Taste the dish before serving and adjust with a pinch more salt, a drizzle of olive oil, or an extra squeeze of lemon, small tweaks make all the difference.
  • If your air fryer is small, work in batches rather than cramming everything in, the results will be so much better.
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