Quick and easy pasta with fresh lemon, asparagus, spaghetti, olive oil and Parmesan cheese.
Author:Julie Andrews
Prep Time:10-15 mins
Cook Time:15-20 mins
Total Time:25-35 mins
Yield:Serves 8
Category:Dinner
Method:Stove-Top
Cuisine:Italian, American
Ingredients
Scale
1-pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces on a bias
1-pound whole grain spaghetti
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil + more for garnish
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
Zest and juice of 2 medium lemons
Coarse salt and ground black pepper, to taste
2 large egg yolks
½ cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded + more for garnish
Instructions
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch asparagus for 2-3 minutes. Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and shock in a large bowl of ice water. Drain and set aside.
Add spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to package directions. Drain spaghetti, reserving about 1 cup pasta water. Set aside.
In the same pot, heat ¼ cup olive oil to medium-high. Add garlic and sauté 60-90 seconds, until fragrant. Add lemon zest and juice. Add 1 cup pasta water and bring to a simmer for about a minute, allowing it to slightly thicken. Add spaghetti back into the pot and toss with a generous dash of salt and black pepper. Shut off the heat.
Add egg yolks and toss, using tongs. Add ½ cup Parmesan cheese and continue to toss the pasta, until it forms a creamy sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Add asparagus and toss to combine.
Distribute pasta into bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil, Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
Cooking Tip: Add cooked salmon or chicken to make this a complete dish.