Asparagus Pasta With Mint Pesto Recipes

ASPARAGUS LINGUINE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions.
• Meanwhile, snap off and discard the woody ends of the asparagus, then finely slice the spears at an angle, leaving the tips whole.
• Peel and finely slice the garlic, crumble up the dried chillies, and place both in a large frying pan on a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil and the butter. When the garlic starts to sizzle, stir in the asparagus. Let it start to fry, then add a spoonful of pasta water, cover, and leave to simmer on a low heat until the pasta is al dente.
• Using tongs, drag the pasta straight into the asparagus pan, letting a little starchy cooking water go with it. Turn the heat off, then finely grate in the pecorino and toss together until the fat, cheese and liquid make a natural creamy sauce - loosen with a little extra cooking water, if needed.
• Taste and season to perfection, then divide between your plates. Finish with a grating of pecorino and a little lemon zest, to taste.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat; add pine nuts. Cook and stir pine nuts until fragrant and toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Pour enough water into a skillet to reach a 1-inch depth; bring to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove asparagus from skillet, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Set aside 1/2 cup asparagus tips.
• Blend remaining asparagus, pine nuts, reserved 1/2 cup cooking water, 1/2 cup basil, olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper in a blender until smooth, keeping the center piece of lid removed to release steam. Add Pecorino-Romano cheese; blend until smooth.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orecchiette pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain and return pasta to pot.
• Slice the remaining 1/4 cup basil. Add sliced basil, asparagus sauce, reserved asparagus tips to pasta; toss to evenly mix. Garnish with extra Pecorino-Romano cheese.

MINT PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the manufacturer's instructions for al dente pasta.
• Meanwhile, put the mint leaves, pistachios and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. While still pulsing, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Remove the lid and use your hands to break up the wedge of pecorino into small chunks and add them to the food processor along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pulse until well combined but there are still small pieces of pecorino throughout the mixture. (You do not want to blend too much because it will cause the mint to brown.) Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
• Transfer the pesto to a large high-sided skillet. When the pasta is cooked to al dente, use a large slotted spoon to lift the pasta out of the pot and directly into the skillet. Stir to combine. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the excess water from the pasta has evaporated and some of the pecorino has started to melt, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and butter if using. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
• Transfer to a large platter and garnish with the grated pecorino and whole mint leaves. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ASPARAGUS AND PISTACHIO PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Trim the tough ends from the asparagus. Store half of the spears upright in a glass filled halfway with water to keep it fresh for a few days or until ready to serve. Chop the remaining asparagus and place it in a food processor. Add the mint, parsley, tarragon, cheese, pistachios, garlic and lime juice. Add the EVOO, pouring to a count of 6 (1/3 to 1/2 cup). Season with salt and pepper. Pulse until the pesto comes together. Place in a small container and store in the refrigerator if not using immediately.
• To serve, bring the pesto to room temperature and place it in a large, shallow serving bowl. Slice the reserved asparagus spears on an angle into 1 1/2-inch pieces.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta and season with salt. Cook the pasta for 5 minutes, then add the peas and chopped asparagus and cook 2 to 3 more minutes. Scoop out 1 cup of the cooking water and add it to the serving bowl to thin the pesto. Drain the pasta, peas and asparagus and add to the bowl. Toss 1 to 2 minutes to combine. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with the shaved cheese.
• Cook's Note: The pesto can be stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

TAGLIATELLE WITH ASPARAGUS, CRISPY PANCETTA AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Snap the woody bottoms off the asparagus stalks and throw them away.
• Cut off the top 4cm of each stalk, put to one side and finely chop the remaining stalks. Heat a wide frying pan and gently fry the chopped asparagus stalks in a little olive oil with the pancetta. When the asparagus softens slightly turn the heat off and mash them roughly with the back of a fork.
• Cook the tagliatelle in plenty of boiling salted water, according to pack instructions. Add the asparagus tips for the last 2 minutes of cooking time.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the cooking water, and toss with the mashed asparagus and pancetta.
• Stir in most of the Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. If needed loosen the pasta with a little of the cooking water. Serve with the last of the Parmesan sprinkled on top.
• Tip: Cooking your asparagus with the pasta is a clever way to save on time and washing up.

ASPARAGUS PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook 1 pound trimmed asparagus in salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to ice water to cool; drain and pat dry, then roughly chop. Puree the asparagus in a food processor with 1 cup fresh parsley, 1/2 cup fresh mint, 1/3 cup toasted unsalted pistachios, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Drizzle in 1/3 cup olive oil and puree until smooth. Toss with 1 pound cooked pasta and 3/4 cup parmesan, adding pasta cooking water as needed to loosen.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Add pasta to boiling water and cook for 7 minutes; add prepared vegetables to the pot and continue to cook for 3 more minutes, or until al dente.
• Drain.
• In the meantime prepare the sauce.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, or until tender.
• In a small mixing bowl combine flour and chicken broth; whisk until thoroughly incorporated.
• Add broth mixture to the onion mixture in the pan.
• Whisk in milk; continue to whisk constantly and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and cook for 1 more minute, or until thickened.
• Stir in the cream cheese; stir until melted.
• Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and remove from heat.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Add pasta and vegetables to the sauce; stir until completely combined.
• Serve.

ASPARAGUS PASTA WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor, briefly whizz the mint leaves, ricotta and grated Parmesan until you have a smooth green pesto. Season well.
• Boil the pasta, dropping in the asparagus tips 2-3 mins before the cooking time is up. When you drain the pasta, keep back a few tbsp of the water, then return the pasta, asparagus and water to the saucepan.
• Quickly stir in the mint pesto, divide between 4 plates, then shave over the remaining Parmesan to serve.

CAMPANELLE WITH PISTACHIO-MINT PESTO, ASPARAGUS, AND CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse 1/2 cup mint, pistachios, cheese, garlic, and zest with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until finely chopped. Add oil; pulse until a loose paste forms.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of generously salted boiling water 5 minutes. Add asparagus; cook until crisp-tender and pasta is al dente, about 3 minutes more. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Let cool 10 minutes.
• In a serving bowl, combine pasta and asparagus with pesto and tomatoes. Toss with 1/4 cup pasta water, adding more, a few tablespoons at a time, until sauce evenly coats pasta. Serve, topped with remaining mint, chopped pistachios, cheese, and a drizzle of oil.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook the garlic, red pepper flakes and hot pepper sauce in oil and butter for 1 minute. Add the asparagus, salt and pepper; saute until asparagus is crisp-tender, 8-10 minutes. Stir in cheese. Pour over hot pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS PASTA WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor, briefly whizz the mint leaves, ricotta and grated Parmesan until you have a smooth green pesto. Season well.
• Boil the pasta, dropping in the asparagus tips 2-3 mins before the cooking time is up. When you drain the pasta, keep back a few tbsp of the water, then return the pasta, asparagus and water to the saucepan.
• Quickly stir in the mint pesto, divide between 4 plates, then shave over the remaining Parmesan to serve.