Spring Day Asparagus Pasta Recipes

ASPARAGUS-SPRING PEA PASTA

Steps:

• Bring large pot of water to a boil; add salt.
• Add asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice and cold water.
• Bring water in pot back to a boil; add snow peas and cook just until tender, about 1 minute.
• Transfer with slotted spoon to bowl of ice and cold water.
• Repeat with sugar snap peas; reserve cooking liquid in pot.
• When vegetables are cool, drain in a colander, set aside.
• Bring cooking liquid in pot back to a boil; stir in pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Reserve 1 cup cooking liquid, then drain pasta.
• Diagonally cut asparagus into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Transfer half of asparagus to a food processor.
• Diagonally cut half of the snow peas and sugar snap peas in half; add cut snow and sugar snap peas to food processor with half of green peas.
• Add 6 T reserved cooking liquid, the Parmigiano-Reggiano, zest, garlic, juice and oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Process until smooth.
• Combine with remaining vegetables in a saucepan; heat over low heat until warm, for sauce.
• Transfer sauce, pasta and 1/4 cup cooking liquid to a large serving bowl; toss until coated well, adding additional cooking liquid, 2 T at a time, if too thick.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Top each serving with prosciutto, chives and a dollop of ricotta.
• Sprinkle with pepper, if desired.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
• While the water is coming to a boil, slice snap peas and asparagus stems into 1/4-inch-thick pieces; leave asparagus tips whole.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add snap peas, asparagus, English peas and onion. Cook until vegetables are barely tender (but not too soft or mushy), 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Drop pasta into boiling water and cook until al dente (1 to 3 minutes for fresh pasta, more for dried pasta). Drain well and transfer pasta to a large bowl. Immediately toss pasta with vegetables, Parmigiano-Reggiano, crème fraîche and herbs. Season generously with salt and pepper, if needed.

SPRING ASPARAGUS ANGEL HAIR PASTA

Steps:

• Rinse the asparagus and remove the bottom inch of the stem.
• Cut the tips into 2 inch pieces.
• Cut the remaining piece julienned.
• Set the asparagus aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt.
• In a large nonstick skillet, saute the garlic, shallots and red pepper flakes in olive oil, until tender but not browned.
• Add the lemon juice and reduce by half.
• Drop the pasta and the asparagus tips into the boiling water.
• Cook until the pasta is ala dente, about 3 - 4 minutes.
• Drain for a few minutes and add to the pan.
• While the pasta is cooking add the remaining asparagus to the pan with the shallots and saute until they begin to wilt.
• Toss in the chives, the pasta and cook until the remaining water has evaporated.
• Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Remove from heat and add the Parmesan cheese.
• Serve immediately.
• (When I make this a second time, I'm going to add a little lemon zest in step 7).

SPRINGTIME PENNE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute asparagus and onion in butter for 5-8 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender., Add the ham, cream, pepper and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook over low heat for 1 minute. Drain pasta. Add to the asparagus mixture; toss to coat. If desired, top with shredded Parmesan cheese.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES (SPRING)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.