Name: Pasta with Asparagus and Lemon Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Lemons - 2; Penne pasta - 1 (16 ounce) box; Butter, divided - 5 tablespoons; Asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces - ¾ pound; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste - ¾ pound; All-purpose flour - 3 tablespoons; Heavy cream - ¾ cup; Vegetable broth, or more to taste - 1 ½ cups; Fresh parsley, chopped - 4 sprigs; White sugar, or to taste - 1 pinch; Ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced - 2; Freshly shaved Parmesan cheese - ½ cup

Recipe information

Cooking:

20 min.

Servings per container:

Source:

More details

Ingredients for - Pasta with Asparagus and Lemon Sauce

1. Lemons - 2

2. Penne pasta - 1 (16 ounce) box

3. Butter, divided - 5 tablespoons

4. Asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces - ¾ pound

5. Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste - ¾ pound

6. All-purpose flour - 3 tablespoons

7. Heavy cream - ¾ cup

8. Vegetable broth, or more to taste - 1 ½ cups

9. Fresh parsley, chopped - 4 sprigs

10. White sugar, or to taste - 1 pinch

11. Ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced - 2

12. Freshly shaved Parmesan cheese - ½ cup

How to cook deliciously - Pasta with Asparagus and Lemon Sauce

1. Stage

Zest and juice 1 1/2 lemons. Cut remaining lemon half into wedges and set aside.

2. Stage

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.

3. Stage

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.

4. Stage

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.

5. Stage

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.