vegetable pasta sauce

Asparagus Lemon Parmesan Pasta Sauce

An asparagus lemon parmesan pasta sauce with garlic and olive oil for a fresh vegetable-forward dinner in about 30 minutes.

10Prep min
20Cook min
30Total min
4 servingsYield
Asparagus lemon parmesan pasta with green vegetables and herbs
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Recipe card

Asparagus Lemon Parmesan Pasta Sauce

30 min

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (450 g) asparagus, trimmed
  • 12 oz (340 g) pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, as needed
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. 1

    Cut asparagus into bite-size pieces, keeping the tips separate.

  2. 2

    Cook pasta until al dente. Add asparagus pieces for the last 3 minutes and tips for the final 1 minute. Reserve pasta water and drain.

  3. 3

    Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook garlic for 30 seconds.

  4. 4

    Add pasta, asparagus and a splash of pasta water. Toss well.

  5. 5

    Remove from heat and add parmesan, lemon zest and lemon juice. Season and serve.

Helpful notes

  • Adding asparagus to the pasta pot keeps the recipe simple.
  • The tips need less cooking time than the stalk pieces.

Serve as-is or with a simple salad. Long pasta and penne both work well.

Storage and reheating

Refrigerate for up to 3 days and reheat gently.