The Best Asparagus Lemon Pasta Recipes

LEMON ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Stir in penne and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes. Penne will still be slightly firm.
• Stir asparagus into the pot with the boiling penne pasta and bring back to a boil; cook until pasta is tender and asparagus is softened but still bright green, about 3 more minutes. Drain pasta and asparagus.
• Place penne and asparagus into a large bowl; lightly stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until thoroughly combined.

THE BEST ASPARAGUS LEMON PASTA

Steps:

• Cut the asparagus into 1/2 inch slices on the diagonal, or just into 3 pieces.
• In a steamer set over boiling water steam asparagus, covered, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. set aside.
• In a 6-quart kettle bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil for pasta.
• In a deep 12-inch skillet heat butter and cream over moderately low heat until butter is melted and stir in zest, lemon juice, and salt. Remove skillet from heat and keep sauce warm, covered.
• Add pasta to boiling water and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Ladle 1/4 cup pasta water into sauce and drain pasta in colander.
• Immediately add pasta and asparagus to sauce and cook over moderate heat, tossing, 1 minute, or until heated through. Add basil and salt and pepper to taste and toss well.
• Sprinkle pasta with a little Parmesan and serve more Parmesan on the side.

ASPARAGUS LEMON PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, adding asparagus during the last 6 minutes; drain and rinse in cold water. Transfer to a large serving bowl. , In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the remaining ingredients; shake well. Pour over pasta mixture and toss to coat. Serve or refrigerate.

ASPARAGUS LEMON PASTA

Steps:

• In a steamer set over boiling water steam asparagus, covered, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer asparagus to a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain asparagus well.
• In a 6-quart kettle bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil for pasta.
• In a deep 12-inch skillet heat butter and cream over moderately low heat until butter is melted and stir in zest, lemon juice, and salt. Remove skillet from heat and keep sauce warm, covered.
• Add pasta to boiling water and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Ladle 1/4 cup pasta water into sauce and drain pasta in colander.
• Immediately add pasta and asparagus to sauce and cook over moderate heat, tossing, 1 minute, or until heated through. Add parsley and salt and pepper to taste and toss well.
• Sprinkle pasta with a little Parmesan and serve more Parmesan on the side.

ASPARAGUS LEMON PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare penne according to package directions. Once cooked, toss with 1 teaspoon olive oil and chill. Cut off 1 - 2 inches of the base of asparagus and discard. Slice asparagus into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Simmer in skillet with water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain asparagus and plunge into a bowl of ice water. This will help maintain the bright green color and stop the asparagus from cooking further. Toast pine nuts in oven until golden. In small bowl squeeze juice from lemon and grate the rind to create lemon zest. In large bowl whisk together lemon and rind, salt, pepper and remaining olive oil. Add asparagus, drained red pepper, pine nuts and pasta. Serve.

PAPPARDELLE WITH ASPARAGUS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus and cut each stalk into 3 to 4 pieces, slicing on the diagonal. Cook the asparagus in a pot of lightly salted, boiling water for 2 minutes, or until tender but still firm. Immediately place in a bowl of ice water, or under cold running water. After asparagus cool, drain, cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente (barely tender), about 10 to 12 minutes. While the pasta is cooking, combine lemon juice and white wine in a small non-stick skillet and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 2 to 3 tablespoons. Add salt and cream and reduce to about 2/3 cup. Remove from heat and stir in one tablespoon of the lemon zest. Cover to keep warm until the pasta is cooked. When pasta is cooked, drain and return it to the cooking pot. Add asparagus pieces, lemon cream sauce and minced parsley. Toss gently to combine. Transfer to a warm serving platter or plates. Garnish with remaining tablespoon of lemon zest and serve.

ASPARAGUS & LEMON SPAGHETTI WITH PEAS

Steps:

• Boil the spaghetti for 12 mins until al dente, adding the asparagus for the last 3 mins. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan, add the leeks and chilli and cook for 5 mins. Stir in the garlic, peas and lemon zest and juice and cook for a few mins more.
• Drain and add the pasta to the pan with ¼ mug of the pasta water and toss everything together until well mixed. Spoon into shallow bowls and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over, if you like.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Zest and juice 1 1/2 lemons. Cut remaining lemon half into wedges and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
• While penne is cooking, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pot over medium heat and cook asparagus until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and remove from pot.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter and heat until a pinch of flour sprinkled into the pot will just begin to bubble. Whisk in flour to form a thick paste the consistency of cake frosting. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, for about 5 minutes. Whisk in cream and vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir lemon juice, lemon zest, and parsley into the sauce; season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Add asparagus and heat through, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and penne to the sauce and pour in some of the reserved cooking water. Serve with shaved Parmesan and lemon wedges.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add asparagus, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned and crisp-tender, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness. Add lemon zest and cook 1 minute. Add lemon juice, toss to coat, and serve warm.

LEMON ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Cut the asparagus into 1/2 inch slices on the diagonal, or just into 3 pieces.
• In a steamer set over boiling water steam asparagus, covered, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. set aside.
• In a 6-quart kettle bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil for pasta.
• In a deep 12-inch skillet heat butter and cream over moderately low heat until butter is melted and stir in zest, lemon juice, and salt. Remove skillet from heat and keep sauce warm, covered.
• Add pasta to boiling water and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Ladle 1/4 cup pasta water into sauce and drain pasta in colander.
• Immediately add pasta and asparagus to sauce and cook over moderate heat, tossing, 1 minute, or until heated through. Add basil and salt and pepper to taste and toss well.
• Sprinkle pasta with a little Parmesan and serve more Parmesan on the side.

LEMONY PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Grate the zest from the lemon into a small bowl. Halve the lemon and squeeze the juice from half of it on top of the zest. Add the white beans, shallot or onion, grated garlic, red-pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt and toss well. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon olive oil and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just shy of al dente, usually 2 minutes less than the package directs.
• Meanwhile, heat a 12-inch sauté pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, then add the asparagus. Sauté until the asparagus is tender and starting to brown at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes. Add a big pinch of salt and the sliced garlic and sauté until the garlic is lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• Dip a coffee mug or glass measuring cup into the pasta water and scoop out about 1/2 cup of it to use for the sauce. Drain pasta, shaking it well. Add pasta, bean mixture, parsley and Parmesan to sauté pan and cook until the beans are hot and the pasta is al dente. If the mixture looks dry, splash in some (or all) of the reserved pasta water. Squeeze remaining lemon half over pasta, toss and taste. Season with pepper; add more salt, red-pepper flakes and lemon juice, if desired.

PASTA ALFREDO WITH LEMON AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks, cream, cheese, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to combine.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 2 minutes less than per package instructions. Add asparagus; cook until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes more. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain.
• Return pasta and asparagus to pot along with egg mixture. Toss until well combined, adding a few tablespoons of pasta water at a time until sauce coats pasta. Add lemon juice; season to taste. Serve immediately, with more cheese, pepper, and lemon zest.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS-LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces, reserving tips separately. Cook asparagus stems in 5 to 6 quarts boiling water with 2 tablespoons salt until very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a colander, reserving cooking water in pot, and rinse under cold water. Drain asparagus well and transfer to a food processor or blender.
• Cook asparagus tips in same boiling water until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to colander, reserving boiling water in pot, and rinse under cold water. Drain tips well.
• Purée asparagus stems with zest, oil, and 1/2 cup asparagus cooking water. Transfer sauce to a 4-quart saucepan.
• Cook pasta in boiling asparagus cooking water until it still offers considerable resistance to the tooth, around three fourths of the recommended cooking time. Reserve 2 cups cooking water and drain pasta.
• Add pasta, asparagus tips, and 1/2 cup reserved water to asparagus sauce and cook over high heat, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes, or until pasta is almost al dente and sauce coats pasta. Add more cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until sauce coats pasta but is a little loose (the cheese will thicken it slightly).
• Stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, until cheese is melted.
• Serve immediately.

LEMON-ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Place asparagus in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Mix remaining ingredients; drizzle over asparagus. Toss to coat. Roast until crisp-tender, 8-12 minutes.

LEMON PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut the asparagus in 1/2-inch pieces. You can discard the tips but it is purely up to you.
• Warn the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until softened on the edges. Add the asparagus and season with salt. Cook, stirring to turn and distribute the asparagus, until crisp-tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the lemon zest. Once done, take off the heat.
• When the water comes to boil, add the spaghetti and cook until al dente. Scoop out 1/3 cup pasta water and set aside. Drain the spaghetti and add it to the asparagus along with the butter. Place over medium heat. Use tong to toss and melt the butter. Add half the lemon juice and toss again. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more lemon juice and salt if needed. If the spaghetti is too dry, fold in some of the pasta water.
• Divide among 2 plates. Season with pepper. Sprinkle with parmesan. If you like, drop 2 tablespoonfuls of ricotta ontop of each. Enjoy!