Springtime Asparagus Pasta Toss Recipes

SPRING ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM PAPPARDELLE

Steps:

• Bring an 8-quart stock pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water, and return to pot.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add mushrooms and spread in an even layer; cook for 3 minutes before stirring to let the mushrooms brown. Add garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook 2 minutes more. Add stock and asparagus, then using a wooden spoon, scrape bottom of pan to remove the browned garlic and mushrooms. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Add butter, pasta, and both cheeses, then gently mix with tongs. (If the pasta seems dry, slowly add reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.)
• Serve in skillet or transfer pasta to a platter and top with grated Parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil and parsley. Serve immediately.

LINGUINE WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, peas, green beans, spring onions, yellow onion and a pinch of salt. Cook just until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Add the heavy cream and chicken stock and cook until reduced slightly, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Drain the pasta and transfer to the sauce; toss gently. Transfer everything to a serving bowl. Garnish with the parmesan and basil.

SPRINGTIME ASPARAGUS PASTA TOSS

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt; keep warm. Heat dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add bacon and onions; cook 8 to 10 min. or until bacon is crisp and onions are tender.
• Add asparagus, tomatoes and red pepper; cook 5 min. or until asparagus is crisp-tender.
• Drain pasta. Immediately toss with vegetable mixture and mozzarella. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

SPRINGTIME ASPARAGUS AND PARMESAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Place the asparagus and 1/3 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave on High 1 minute, or just until tender. Rinse under cold water, and blot dry with paper towels.
• Spread 1 side of 6 bread slices with 1/4 teaspoon butter and about 1 tablespoon mayonnaise each. Layer with asparagus, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Place lettuce over the asparagus, season with pepper, and top with remaining 6 bread slices to form 6 sandwiches. Slice on a diagonal; this is a sandwich that exudes spring !

ASPARAGUS-TURKEY PASTA TOSS

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the flour, bouillon, pepper and salt until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; add cheeses and stir until smooth., Stir in the turkey, asparagus and mushrooms. Cook until heated through. Drain pasta and place in a serving bowl. Pour sauce mixture over pasta; toss gently to coat.

SPRING ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook, covered, until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes. Drain; place in a large bowl. Add tomatoes; cover and keep warm. , Place vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, onion, salt and paprika in a blender; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Toss with asparagus mixture. Top with almonds and, if desired, cheese.

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 PASTA SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS, TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Put up a large pot of salted water for cooking the pasta and bring it to a boil.
• Add the asparagus and blanch it until just tender, about 3 minutes.
• Scoop the asparagus from the water with a large strainer spoon and place in a colander. Run cold water over it to stop the cooking process, and to preserve the bright green color. Drain well and slice into small pieces on the diagonal, leaving the tips whole.
• Bring the water back to a rapid boil and cook the penne until just al dente (tender but slightly firm to the bite). Run the pasta under cold water and drain very well.
• In a large serving bowl, add the pasta, the blanched asparagus and all the remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper and toss well until all the pasta is well coated with dressing. Taste for seasoning. This is best served at room temperature.
• Note: Another lovely addition to this pasta is about 3/4 cup freshly shelled spring peas. Blanch them for 1 minute in the boiling pasta water after you blanch the asparagus. Drain well and add them to the bowl along with the other ingredients.

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).

SPAGHETTI WITH SHAVED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Add asparagus and lemon zest to pot; immediately drain pasta mixture, and return to pot.
• Add butter and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, and toss, adding enough pasta water to create a thin sauce. Top with Parmesan.