Ingredients
12 oz linguine or pasta of choice
1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large lemon (zest and juice)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente.
Step 2: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the asparagus pieces to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until the asparagus is bright green and crisp-tender.
Step 4: Before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the asparagus.
Step 5: Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and half of the reserved pasta water. Toss well to combine.
Step 6: Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and toss vigorously, adding more pasta water if needed to create a smooth, creamy sauce.
Step 7: Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra black pepper.
Notes
For a vegan version, use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan and replace butter with more olive oil.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Healthy Dinner
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: lemon asparagus pasta, healthy dinner, 20 minute meal, spring recipes, vegetarian pasta
