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Home » Recipes » Meat Pasta Recipes

Published: May 4, 2025 · Modified: May 4, 2025 by Jacqui

Pasta with zucchini flowers, saffron and ham.


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Pasta with zucchini flowers, saffron and ham is a beautiful delicate and creamy summer dish that you are certain to fall in love with! Definitely an Italian pasta recipe you will want to make time and again (at least while zucchini flowers or squash blossoms are in season!)

Pennoni pasta with zucchini flowers, saffron and ham.

Eating zucchini flowers in Italy.

There are many foods I had never eaten before moving to Italy. For example, zucchini flowers! Italians love zucchini flowers (fiori di zucca). They’ve been eating these flowers since well before edible flowers became a thing!

Creamy pasta with zucchini flowers, saffron and ham.

The most popular way to prepare zucchini flowers here is to fill them, coat them in batter and fry or bake them…totally divine! Although in Southern Italy they also just batter and fry them without filling. One of the most well-known filled and fried zucchini flower recipes is ‘fior di zucca alla Romana’.

Ingredients for pasta with zucchini flowers on white plate.
Gather your ingredients.

This is practically a signature dish in Rome, eaten as street food, as a starter or with an aperitif.  Fiori di zucca fritti in Rome is made by filling the flowers with a local cheese similar to mozzarella called provatura and anchovies, dipping them in a batter of just cold water and flour and frying the flowers in hot oil!

Prepare ingredients in separate bowls; chopped ham, chopped onion, cut zucchini flowers, cubed zucchini, chopped parsley and saffron in water.
Prepare the ingredients.

Italians also eat zucchini flowers in other dishes. These include frittata, risotto and, of course, pasta! Pasta with zucchini flowers usually includes the zucchini themselves, cut into small rounds, cubes or slices. Saffron is another popular ingredient in zucchini flower pasta recipes. And for a touch of meat, Italians will add pancetta, speck, ham or sausage.

Chopped onion and cubed zucchini cooking in deep skillet.
Sauté onion and zucchini in olive oil.

Pasta with zucchini flowers.

Pasta with zucchini flowers and saffron doesn’t seem to be associated with one particular area or city. Although the use of saffron is more common in the regions where it is grown, in particular Sardinia, Marche, Tuscany, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Abruzzo, which is the region in which saffron was first cultivated in Italy back in the 14th century.

Small cubes of ham added to skillet with onion and zucchini.
Add cubed ham.

How to chose the right zucchini flowers.

When I go shopping for zucchini flowers, I can find two types, male and female!! Yes, zucchini have both and pollination is carried out by bees or by hand. The flower from which the zucchini actually grows is the female! The male on the other hand grows on a stalk.

For this pasta with zucchini flowers recipe, you can use female flowers with baby zucchini attached. I love them so tiny and crispy. They don’t get as soft as bigger zucchini when you cook them!

Saffron dissolved in water added to skillet with ham, zucchini and onion.
Add the saffron dissolved in water.

However, you can also use male flowers and buy the zucchini separately. In fact, traditionally, although there’s no difference in taste, male zucchini flowers are used more in cooking. This is because if the female blossoms are removed, the zucchini won’t grow!

Cut zucchini flowers added to skillet with pasta sauce.
Add the zucchini flowers.

What type of pasta to use.

This recipe for pasta with zucchini flowers can be made with different types of dried pasta, although short tube pasta is more typical. In the past, I have made this recipe with garganelli, a beautiful short egg pasta from Emilia-Romagna.

However, this time round, I used large ridged penne known as pennoni! Many well-known Italian brands make this shape including De Cecco, La Molisana, Di Martino and Garofalo. If you can't find pennoni or garganelli, other tubes such as rigatoni work well. Ridged pasta is better because the sauce clings to it more.

Alternatively why not make homemade garganelli?

Dried large ridged pennoni pasta.

Other ingredients in this zucchini flower pasta recipe.

Apart from the pasta and the zucchini flowers, you will need zucchini, cooked ham, an onion, fresh parsley, saffron, heavy cream and grated grana or Parmigiano.

The zucchini: Choose young, smaller fresh zucchini that have smooth and shiny dark green skin. They will be sweeter. Older, large zucchini aren’t so good because they can be bitter.

Cooked ham: Use a thick piece or block rather than pre-sliced ham for best results. This recipe is also a greatway to make use of leftover holiday ham.

Cream added to zucchini flower pasta sauce ingredients in skillet.
Add cream.

Onion: Use a medium sized white or yellow onion. Make sure to slice and chop it finely so you don’t get large pieces of onion in the sauce.

Saffron: You can use either ½ a teaspoon of saffron powder or ½ teaspoon of saffron threads. You will need to soak the saffron threads in 3 tablespoons of warm water for at least 20 minutes before using them to let the flavors meld into the liquid.

Heavy cream: Here in Italy, we often use 'Panna da cucina', a less fatty, thicker long life version of heavy cream. If it's unavailable, you can use standard heavy cream or a lighter alternative like half-and-half to make the creamy sauce. 

Zucchini flower, saffron and ham pasta sauce in deep skillet.

Grated cheese: You can use Grana Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano for this recipe. Cheese that has been freshly grated tastes richer, creamier, and melts much better than the pre-packaged kind.

Parsley: Adds a fresh, herby flavor to the dish. Fresh parsley is recommended over dried. If you don't have fresh parsley, it's better to omit it.

Cooked and drained pennoni pasta in skillet with zucchini flower pasta sauce.
Cook and drain the pasta and add to the sauce.

Expert tips.

Preparing Zucchini Flowers: Start by rinsing the zucchini flowers carefully under cold water to remove any dirt. It's best to do this one by one. Then, pat them dry gently with paper towels. Next, open each flower and remove the stems and stamens. These parts can be bitter. Finally, cut the flower crowns into strips.

Step by Step instructions.

1) If you are using saffron threads put them in a glass with a little warm water and leave to infuse. Prepare the zucchini flowers as described above. Prepare the other ingredients.

2) Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Add salt and bring to the boil again. Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet. Before draining it, save a cup of the pasta water.

Grated grana added to the pasta and zucchini flower sauce in skillet.
Add some grated cheese to the pasta and sauce.

Cook's tip: You can make the sauce while you are waiting for the water to boil for the pasta or you can make it first.

3) Heat the olive oil in a frying pan or large skillet that’s big enough to fit the pasta later. Add the chopped onion and sauté over a low heat until it softens slightly and then add the zucchini. Add salt and pepper and let the zucchini cook until they start to turn golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.

4) Once the zucchini are ready, add the ham and brown it for at least a minute, then add the saffron water. Mix well then add the zucchini flowers and stir them into the sauce. Finally add the cream mix again and cook over a low heat for a couple of minutes.

4) Add the drained pasta to the sauce and mix well. Add a handful of grated cheese to thicken the sauce. And, if the sauce seems dry, add a little of the saved starchy pasta cooking water. Serve immediately with chopped fresh parsley.

Ready pasta with zucchini flowers, saffron and ham in skillet.
Mix the pasta, cheese and sauce together.

What to do with leftovers.

Keep leftover pasta mixed with sauce in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat leftovers in the microwave, on the stovetop or in the oven. I particularly like the latter way.

Let me know what you think.

This recipe can also be made without cheese or with ricotta instead of heavy cream. Whichever way you make this pasta with zucchini flowers and saffron, I'm sure you'll love not only the combination of flavours but how appetizing and colourful the dish looks.

Serve with chopped fresh parsley.

If you make this recipe I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you liked it. Please leave a comment here on the blog or on The Pasta Project Facebook page. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Buon appetito!

More Saffron Pasta Recipes

If you want to have a look at more Italian pasta saffron recipes, have a look at some of my favorites:

  • Saffron Prawn Pasta
  • Saffron Sausage Pasta
  • Sardinian Ricotta Ravioli with Saffron

Save this recipe for later?

If you want to save this recipe for later, you can print it, bookmark this page or save it to Pinterest.

Verticle pinterest image of zucchi flowers, saffron and ham pasta.
Pasta with zucchini flowers, saffron and ham.

Creamy pasta with zucchini flowers, saffron and ham.

Jacqui
This creamy and delicate pasta with zucchini flowers is bound to become a favourite summer dish. All you need apart from the zucchini flowers and pasta is cooked ham, zucchini, onion, saffron, cream, fresh parsley and cheese.
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved! Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean
Servings 4
Calories 674 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large pot to cook pasta.
  • 1 large deep skillet to make sauce and then mix in pasta.
  • 1 sharp knife to chop vegetables and ham.

Ingredients
 
 

  • 11 ounces large ridged penne pasta or other short ridged pasta like rigatoni or garganelli
  • 16 zucchini flowers
  • 4 zucchini if not attached to flowers (medium sized)
  • 1 sachet saffron powder or ½ teaspoon saffron threads
  • 1 onion peeled and finely chopped
  • 4.25 ounces cooked ham (about 3 thick slices) cut into cubes
  • 7 floz heavy cream
  • 2-3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 ounces Parmigiano or grana freshly grated
  • 1 handful fresh parsley chopped
  • salt for pasta and to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • If you are using saffron threads put them in a glass with a little warm water and leave to infuse for about 20 minutes or dissolve the saffron powder in a little water.
  • Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Add salt and bring to the boil again. Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet. Before draining it, save a cup of the cooking water. 
  • You can make the sauce while you are waiting for the water to boil for the pasta or you can make it first. Peel and chop the onion finely. Cut the cooked ham into small cubes. Wash and chop the parsley. Cut thee zucchini into small cubes.
  • Clean the zucchini flowers by removing the pistil or stamen from the centre and washing them carefully. These flowers are delicate. Wash them one at a time just before using to retain their freshness. You can leave the flowers whole or cut into strips. ( I cut some into strips and left a couple whole) 
  • Heat the olive oil in a frying pan or skillet that’s big enough to fit the in pasta later. Add the chopped onion and cook over a low heat until it softens slightly and then add the zucchini cubes. Add salt and black pepper and let the zucchini cook until they become slightly golden.
  • Once the zucchini are ready, add the ham and brown it for at least a minute. Then add the saffron thread water or sachet contents mixed with a little water. Mix well and add the zucchini flowers and stir them into the sauce. Finally add the heavy cream mix again and cook over a low heat for a couple of minutes. 
  • Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan and mix it well with the sauce. Add a handful of grated cheese to thicken the sauce. Plus, if the sauce seems dry, add a little of the saved pasta cooking water. 
  • Mix everything together and serve immediately sprinkled with chopped parsley and more grated cheese if required.
Prevent your screen from going dark

Notes

You can make this recipe with different kinds of short pasta. Ridged pasta is better. For vegetarians just leave out the ham and use a vegetarian cheese. Italian grana and Parmigiano are both made with animal rennet and are not suitable for vegetarians.
You can substitute the ham for other meats such as prosciutto crudo or sausage.
I had some leftovers from this dish, so the next day I baked them with some butter and grated cheese. Very good! 

Nutrition

Calories: 674kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 25gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 612mgPotassium: 896mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1505IUVitamin C: 48mgCalcium: 263mgIron: 2mg
Keyword saffron, summer pasta, zucchini, zucchini flowers
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Pin for Later
Verticle pinterest image with text overlay for creamy pasta with zucchini flowers and saffron.

More Meat Pasta Recipes

  • Pasta alla Genovese recipe (beef and onion ragù)
  • Rigatoni pasta with shallots and guanciale.
    Easy Rigatoni Pasta Recipe with Shallots and Guanciale
  • Homemade garganelli pasta with sausage ragu.
    Homemade garganelli pasta with sausage ragu recipe.
  • Pasta with broccoli.
    Pasta with broccoli and pancetta.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Sophia Inza says

    August 08, 2018 at 12:23 am

    This is beautiful and looks delish!

    Reply
    • Jacqui says

      August 08, 2018 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks so much Sophia, I'm happy you like it!

      Reply
  2. Amanda says

    August 08, 2018 at 12:00 am

    I've just been hearing about zucchini flowers and I need to try to find them!

    Reply
    • Jacqui says

      August 08, 2018 at 5:05 pm

      Zucchini flowers are Ahmazing Amanda! I hope you succeed in finding some!

      Reply
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Buon giorno and welcome to my pasta project! My name is Jacqui. I’m originally a Londoner but in 2003 life’s journey brought me to the beautiful Veneto region of Italy where…

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