Incredibly Simple Asparagus Parmesan Pasta
This is a quick, simple recipe that feels elegant and looks really pretty with crisp-tender, bright green asparagus, penne pasta and colorful spices. It’s full of flavor with a bit of spiciness! Made as is, this is a recipe for garlic lovers; but if you’re not that into garlic just use 2 or 3 cloves, it will still be good!
With just a few ingredients you can create a beautiful, gourmet, one-pot dinner that comes together in minutes with minimal effort! That’s what I call a win!
Ingredients in Incredibly Simple Asparagus Parmesan Pasta:
Garlic
Always use fresh garlic for this recipe, the jarred stuff just won’t do! To keep things simple, I use this to mince my garlic. It has made my life sooo much easier! If you don’t have a good garlic press, I highly recommend this handy little tool. Also, just recently I started buying the peeled garlic… have you tried it? It makes life so much easier! Why, you ask… well, because peeling garlic can be a pain and it’s about the same price to buy it already peeled sooo why not?
Parmesan
Also, make sure you buy fresh grated/shredded Parmesan, it makes such a difference! Or if you’re feeling really ambitious buy a wedge and grate it fresh… even better.
Asparagus
Asparagus is a wonderfully versatile vegetable. I use it in quiches, as a quick side dish (sautéed in olive oil), as an appetizer (wrapped in Prosciutto & grilled)… there are so many possibilities!
Buying Asparagus tips: Look for firm, bright green asparagus, feel the tops, they should never be soft or slightly slimy. The stalks should be rigid and it should never be limp.
Keeping Asparagus Fresh until you’re ready to use it:
Keep it like flowers, really… it works. Place asparagus in a jar with water as you would fresh flowers, it’ll keep the asparagus fresh until you’re ready to use it.
Preparing Asparagus: Rinse asparagus in cold water, while rinsing, bend back & forth toward the bottom of the stalk (the woody part). Discard the part that breaks off toward the bottom. This is an easy way to determine which part to use. The tough, inedible part will break off… easy peasy!
Pasta
Penne pasta works great for this recipe because it’s about the same size as the asparagus… for this reason it would be my first choice. However, ziti, mostaccioli or rotini will work too.
Incredibly Simple Asparagus Parmesan Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz. Penne pasta cooked and drained (can use gluten free)
- 1 lb. fresh asparagus cut into 2-3 inch pieces (I try to cut it to about the same size as my pasta)
- 5 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
- 2 Tbsp. Butter
- 1/2 Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes dried
- 1/2 Tsp. Salt
- 1/4 Tsp. Pepper
- 2 Dashes Hot Sauce
- 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese freshly shredded
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet. Add garlic, hot sauce and red pepper flakes and cook for about a minute (don't let the garlic brown).
- Add asparagus and cook until until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, add to taste.
- Combine asparagus mixture with pasta, add Parmesan and mix well.
- Serve immediately or remove from heat to prevent asparagus from overcooking.
Do you love simple meatless pasta recipes?
Try my Baked Spinach and Cheese Ziti recipe, you can find it here or my Pasta with Kale and Tomatoes (in 15 Minutes) you can find it here.
If you made this recipe I’d love to hear from you! You can leave any comments or questions below.
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