Description
A fresh and creamy Spring Pea and Asparagus Pasta featuring tender asparagus, sweet peas, and a luscious lemon-infused Parmesan cream sauce, perfect for a quick and elegant 25-minute meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz spaghetti or fettuccine
Vegetables
- 1 cup fresh asparagus, chopped
- 1 cup sweet peas (fresh or frozen)
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Prepare the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Be sure to reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining to help adjust the sauce consistency later.
- Prep Vegetables: While the pasta cooks, trim and chop the asparagus into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, approximately 1 minute, taking care not to burn the garlic.
- Cook Vegetables: Add the chopped asparagus and sweet peas to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender yet still crisp, around 3 minutes.
- Make Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream, then stir in the lemon zest and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the sauce becomes creamy and smooth. Add reserved pasta water gradually as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Toss Pasta and Serve: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce in the skillet and toss gently to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy vegetable sauce. Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra Parmesan cheese for added flavor.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a plant-based cream alternative.
- You can use frozen peas if fresh peas are not available; just thaw them before adding to the skillet.
- Adjust the amount of lemon zest to your taste for more or less brightness.
- Reserve pasta water is key to smooth sauce consistency—add it slowly to avoid thinning the sauce too much.
- Pair this pasta with a crisp white wine or a light salad for a complete meal.
