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Creamy Lemon Asparagus Pasta
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This deliciously creamy Lemon Asparagus Pasta recipe is so satisfying, you’ll wish it was asparagus season all year long! The asparagus is cooked in the oven first, making the prep really easy.
Asparagus is in season in California from March-June, so you’ll want to make this fabulous asparagus pasta recipe as many time as you can this spring!
Transitioning from winter to spring can sometimes be confusing in the culinary department…
Is it time to barbecue? Or do we still have time for soups and stews?
Some days are bright and sunny and others are gloomy and rainy. Well, lucky for you, today was rainy and gloomy in my part of the state, so I made some creamy pasta that is pure comfort food. Rich and cheesy and laced with lemon, this pasta will help you through these last few weeks of unpredictable weather and beyond!
I made enough to feed the fam and have enough leftovers to keep for lunch tomorrow.
Double win!
First, let’s cook the asparagus oven style:
Of course, I started with fresh and crisp California asparagus. What could be better?
To cook asparagus oven style:
I placed those perfect green stalks in a shallow pan and drizzled them with olive oil and dusted with salt and pepper. I roasted them in a hot oven until cooked through.
About 15-20 minutes at 400F is perfect for roasting asparagus.
They came out just right; crispy with just enough char.
Slicing for the Lemon Asparagus Pasta:
Slice the stalks into 4 equally-sized pieces. That makes a good size for incorporating into the pasta.
Make the pasta and sauce while the asparagus is in the oven:
While the asparagus was cooking, I prepared the noodles and made the cream sauce. I used bucatini pasta because of its thickness and texture. More surface area for the cream sauce to cling to!
Place them all in a bowl together and stir well to combine.
Dish up into individual bowls, sprinkle with a bit of parsley and have at it!
Don’t forget to add a slice of crusty French bread or sourdough for dipping in the creamy lemon asparagus pasta sauce. Heck, I use mine as an extra utensil to help get the pasta into my mouth!
Eat it while it’s hot and creamy!
Here’s the recipe for ya…
CREAMY LEMON ASPARAGUS PASTA
Ingredients
- 2 lb. asparagus
- 1 lb. dried long pasta like Bucatini or Fettucini
- 1 t. extra virgin olive oil
- 2 t. butter
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 1 c. heavy cream
- 2 c. milk
- 8 oz. shredded Parmesan
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- 1/2 t. crushed red pepper
- Salt and pepper
- Parsley for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the asparagus in a shallow baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Place in preheated oven and roast for 20 minutes. Chop the spears into four equal pieces.
- While the asparagus is cooking, cook your pasta according to package directions.
- Place the butter, cream cheese, cream, milk and parmesan in a large, heavy saucepan and heat slowly to a low boil, stirring frequently. Once sauce is smooth, add lemon juice, zest and red pepper flakes. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes silky. Add a dash of black pepper.
- Remove from heat and add the pasta and asparagus to the sauce and stir well to combine.
- Serve and top with fresh, minced parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
Are you an asparagus lover? Check out these other fabulous recipes:
Asparagus “Ribbon” Pizza: Delicious Asparagus Pizza Recipe
This tasty Asparagus Pizza Recipe is made with thin-cut shaved asparagus ribbons – easily made with a vegetable peeler. Paired with bacon and fresh mozzarella, then popped in a hot oven, asparagus pizza might become your new favorite!
Asparagus Au Gratin
This deliciously decadent Asparagus Au Gratin from the G-Free Foodie cooks the asparagus simply by blanching it in broth, then is smothered in cheesy goodness and finishes in the oven!
Asparagus w/ Burrata & Pistachio Salsa Verde
In addition to being delicious served over asparagus the crunchy fresh herb sauce in this recipe from A Girl Defloured is delicious over grilled seafood, especially salmon, or chicken.
Looking for an organic and beautiful method to your spring entertaining décor? Try this Asparagus candle!