Asparagus Pasta Recipe: 3 Tips for Preparing Asparagus Pasta
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Apr 3, 2023 • 3 min read
Asparagus pasta can be a light but satisfying dish, especially in late spring or summer when asparagus is in season and at its most flavorful.
Learn From the Best
What Is Asparagus Pasta?
Pasta with fresh asparagus is a classic, Italian-inspired meal that combines fresh, tender asparagus with pasta, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. Whether you’re cooking up a hot bowl of asparagus pasta or making a cold pasta salad with fresh vegetables, it’s important to consider the shape of the pasta. Short pasta like rigatoni, penne, or orecchiette pairs better with large pieces of vegetables or meat than long, thin pasta. Save the spaghetti or fettuccine for sauces like classic tomato or a hearty ragu.
3 Variations of Asparagus Pasta
You can make numerous quick and easy variations on asparagus pasta by adding other foods to complement the main ingredients. Here are three ideas for variations of asparagus pasta:
- 1. Feta and olive oil asparagus pasta: Use crumbled feta instead of parmesan cheese for a more savory, Greek-inspired pasta dish.
- 2. Creamy alfredo chicken and asparagus pasta: Alfredo sauce is a cream sauce that contains heavy cream and parmesan. Add roasted chicken and asparagus tips to the cooked pasta and toss the whole meal with alfredo sauce.
- 3. Vegan asparagus pasta: Omit the parmesan cheese and use an extra two tablespoons of olive oil or vegan butter to thicken the sauce. Garnish the dish with vegan cheese to taste.
3 Tips for Preparing Asparagus Pasta
You can cook asparagus pasta in less than 30 minutes, making it an option for a quick weeknight dinner recipe. Here are tips to ensure your meal prep goes smoothly from start to finish.
- 1. Cut the asparagus into bite-sized pieces. First, rinse the asparagus, then line up the spears on a cutting board. Trim off and discard the tough white ends. Then cut the tender green asparagus into one-inch pieces so that they are bite-sized.
- 2. Use reserved pasta water for the sauce. After you boil the pasta, do not drain the cooking water left in the pot. You can use the starch in the water to make a creamy sauce without adding any cream or butter.
- 3. Make the dish ahead of time. You can enjoy asparagus pasta warm or cold. To prepare for dinners on busy weeknights, make the asparagus pasta a day ahead of time so you have the option of serving it reheated or chilled. Either way, try serving the dish with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of black pepper.
Asparagus Pasta Recipe
makes
prep time
10 mintotal time
30 mincook time
20 minIngredients
- 1
Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted, boiling water. Follow the package directions for al dente pasta (usually 8–10 minutes). Drain the pasta and reserve 1 ½ cups of the pasta cooking water.
- 2
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Trim the fibrous ends off of the asparagus, cut it into 1-inch pieces, and add it to the pan. Season with salt and black pepper. Sauté the asparagus until it starts to brown, around 2 minutes. Add the garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes and stir the ingredients. Let everything cook for about 1 minute.
- 3
Lower the stovetop to medium heat and add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the asparagus mixture.
- 4
Next, add the lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and about 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water. Stir rapidly until the cheese and cooking liquid thickens and coats the pasta, about 2 minutes.
- 5
If the mixture is too thick, slowly add the remaining ½ cup of pasta water until the mixture reaches a creamy consistency, stirring constantly.
- 6
Divide the meal into large pasta dishes and garnish them with additional parmesan cheese to taste and the halved cherry tomatoes.
Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Massimo Bottura, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, Gordon Ramsay, Alice Waters, and more.