Description
A fresh and vibrant asparagus pasta tossed in a light lemon garlic sauce, enhanced with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner, combining the crispness of asparagus with the bright flavors of lemon and garlic.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 12 ounces pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and chopped into 1-inch pieces
Sauce and Seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Fill a large pot with water, bring it to a boil, add salt, then add the pasta and cook according to package instructions for al dente texture.
- Cook Asparagus: Three minutes before the pasta finishes cooking, add the chopped asparagus pieces directly into the boiling pasta water to cook until tender-crisp.
- Drain and Reserve Water: Reserve one cup of pasta cooking water, then drain both the pasta and asparagus and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil and add the minced garlic, cooking it until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Lemon and Seasoning: Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice, season with salt and black pepper, and let the mixture simmer briefly to blend the flavors.
- Toss Pasta and Asparagus: Add the drained pasta and asparagus to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a light, silky sauce.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and mix in the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley for a fresh finish before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and texture.
- Adjust the amount of reserved pasta water to achieve your preferred sauce consistency.
- For a richer dish, add a tablespoon of butter when tossing the pasta with the sauce.
- To keep asparagus crisp, avoid overcooking it in the pasta water.
- This pasta pairs well with a light white wine or sparkling water with lemon.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: asparagus pasta, lemon garlic pasta, easy pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta, spring pasta, quick dinner
