Asparagus Ricotta Spring Pasta

By
Molly Watson
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
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Updated on 07/26/19
Pasta With Asparagus
Molly Watson
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
629 Calories
17g Fat
93g Carbs
25g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 629
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 48mg 16%
Sodium 475mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 93g 34%
Dietary Fiber 6g 23%
Protein 25g
Calcium 247mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The clean, grassy flavor of asparagus shines through in this easy pasta dish. Creamy ricotta cheese adds a sense of indulgence without overpowering the asparagus. The sunny lemon keeps things bright even as the pasta gives it that cozy feeling. In short, it's a dinner perfect for those nights when it's cool enough to want something warm but spring enough to want something fresh.

Using fresh pasta lets this dish shine. Long, tangled tagliatelle noodles are a good choice, as are fresh lasagna noodles cut into floppy squares. If all you have is dried pasta, though, it's still tasty. Fettucine or fusilli are both good choices.

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 pound)
  • 1​ shallot
  • 1 lemon
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more for the pasta water)
  • 1 pound fresh pasta (tagliatelle is a good choice)
  • 1/2 to 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Put on a large pot of salted water to boil. 

  2. Trim the asparagus: snap off the tough ends of each spear by holding it at either end and bending until it naturally snaps apart. Or, if you have a bit of time, you can keep more of the asparagus: cut off and discard the bottom 1/2-inch of each spear and then peel the bottom half of each spear. Cut the trimmed spears into bite-size pieces. Set aside.

  3. Peel and mince the shallot. Set aside.

  4. Working over a small bowl, zest the lemon: use a zester or microplane to remove only the thin yellow layer of the peel, avoiding the bitter white pith that lies beneath, until you have 1/4 teaspoon of zest. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze 2 teaspoons of lemon juice into the bowl with the zest. Reserve the remaining lemon for a final sprinkle of zest or spritz of juice at the end. Set aside.

  5. Choose a large sauté pan or other wide pan that will be big enough to hold the pasta and the asparagus. Set the pan over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the shallot and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 3 minutes.

  6. Add the asparagus and cook, still stirring frequently, until the asparagus turns bright green, about 3 minutes. Add the 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest and 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Stir to combine. Taste and add more salt, lemon juice, and/or lemon zest as you like. Remove the mixture from the heat.

  7. Cook the pasta until tender to the bite, drain, and add it to the asparagus mixture. Gently toss to coat the pasta with the asparagus.

  8. Divide the pasta between 4 plates or bowls. Top the servings evenly with dollops of the ricotta, sprinkle with the Parmesan, and add freshly ground black pepper to taste. If you like lemon, a final tiny sprinkle of lemon zest or spritz of lemon juice can be lovely. Serve immediately.