Creamy Macaroni With Asparagus Without The Cream Recipes

CREAMY MUSHROOM AND ASPARAGUS PASTA (GF)

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add olive oil (1 Tbsp as original recipe is written), garlic (4 cloves as original recipe is written), mushrooms, and asparagus. Season with a healthy pinch each salt and pepper and stir.
• Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms are slightly browned and the asparagus is tender. Remove from skillet and set aside. (If you prefer more tender asparagus, cook longer. If you prefer it with more bite, cook 2-3 minutes.)
• At this time, bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with sea salt. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
• Lower heat on the skillet to low and add olive oil (2 Tbsp as original recipe is written) and minced garlic (4 cloves as original recipe is written). Sauté for 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat and set aside.
• To a blender add remaining raw minced garlic (2 cloves as original recipe is written), sautéed garlic (4 cloves as original recipe is written), vegan cream cheese, almond milk, vegan parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, red pepper flake, and another healthy pinch sea salt and black pepper.
• Blend until creamy and smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast for cheesiness, raw garlic for zing, red pepper flake for heat, lemon juice for acidity/brightness, or salt for saltiness. Mix once more and add back to skillet.
• Heat the sauce over medium heat to warm until slightly bubbly, then reduce heat to low to keep warm. Stir occasionally.
• Add cooked drained pasta directly to the sauce along with sautéed asparagus and mushrooms. Toss to coat and enjoy immediately with additional vegan parmesan cheese. Fresh parsley would also make a fresh, colorful garnish.
• Best when fresh, though leftovers keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a bit of almond milk if it's dried out.

CREAMY VEGAN LEMON ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Add asparagus to a baking sheet and toss with 1/2 Tbsp olive oil and a pinch each salt and pepper (amounts as original recipe is written // alter if adjusting batch size). Top with several thin slices of lemon and bake for 20-25 minutes. Once finished cooking, remove from oven and roughly chop into thirds.
• In the meantime, bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously.
• While the water's heating, bring a large skillet to medium heat. Once hot, add 3 Tbsp olive oil (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and garlic. Whisk and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes or until garlic is just starting to brown.
• Add 3 Tbsp flour (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and whisk. Cook for 30 seconds, then whisk in almond milk 1/2 cup at a time. TIP: Use a large flat spatula to smash down the bits of garlic and flour to properly incorporate. Add a healthy pinch salt and pepper and whisk. Slightly lower heat and continue cooking to thicken, stirring occasionally.
• Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Then drain and set aside.
• For extra creamy sauce, add sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend. Add nutritional yeast and another pinch of salt and pepper. If it looks runny, add remaining flour (or cornstarch). Blend until creamy and smooth, using the "puree" or "liquify" setting if possible. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then add back to pan and continue cooking over medium to medium-low heat to thicken.
• Once your sauce has reached desired thickness, add the juice of half a lemon and stir.
• Add 3/4 of the chopped asparagus and the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat.
• Divide between 2-3 serving plates (per original recipe // adjust if altering batch size) and top with remaining asparagus. Serve with a lemon wedge and vegan parmesan cheese.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a few days.

PENNE WITH PISTACHIOS, ASPARAGUS, AND CREAM

Steps:

• Cook the asparagus in a stockpot in boiling salted water, uncovered, over medium-high heat until tender, about 3 minutes. Remove the asparagus, saving the water so the pasta can be prepared in the same pot.
• Sauté garlic in butter in a sauté pan over medium heat.
• Meanwhile start cooking the pasta, according to package directions.
• Add the asparagus and pepper.
• Increase heat to high and pour in the wine, stirring for about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium.
• Pour the half and half and the cream over asparagus mixture and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Season with salt.
• When pasta is done, drain and return to pot.
• Combine asparagus sauce with pasta, stirring over medium heat.
• Add cheese, stirring until it melts; transfer to platter.
• Garnish with pistachio nuts and serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS AND SWISS MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Move a rack to the middle of the oven. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large pot set over high heat bring 1 gallon of water with 2 tablespoons kosher salt to a boil. Add the penne and cook 2 minutes less than the package directions, stirring occasionally. The pasta will be slightly underdone. Use a measuring cup or ladle to remove 1/3 cup pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta into a colander. Return the pasta to the pot and set aside.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, whisking constantly. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly until the mixture starts to thicken like heavy cream and then becomes almost pudding-like, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shredded cheese and whisk until smooth, the sauce will be very thick. Add the nutmeg and season with some salt and pepper.
• Combine the asparagus, pasta, reserved 1/3 cup pasta water and cheese sauce and toss well. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to the prepared baking dish and top with a layer of the cheese slices. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons butter into 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle the panko over the cheese slices, and top with the butter cubes. Bake until the top is golden brown and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

CREAMLESS ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In soup pot, melt butter or margarine over medium heat; add onion, celery& carrots and cook until tender (4-5 minutes.) Add salt, thyme, bay leaves, mustard seeds and pepper, stirring to coat the veggies.
• Add stock, potato, and sliced asparagus; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat& partially cover, then simmer for 30 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaves, puree half the soup in a blender or processor, and return to the pot- or use a stick blender right in the pot.
• Add the reserved asparagus tips and simmer 4-5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in the garlic.
• Garnish each serving with the chopped fresh dill.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP (WITHOUT CREAM)

Steps:

• Cut the tips off of 12 asparagus (1 1/2") and set aside.
• Discard cut bottom ends of asparagus. Cut asparagus stalks into 1" pieces.
• Cook onion and asparagus in oil in large fry pan over medium heat, stirring often till softened (I cover the pan).
• Pour this into large sauce pan.
• Add broth and simmer on low medium about 15-20 minutes.
• While soup simmers, cook reserved asparagus tips in boiling salted water until just tender (3-4 minutes).
• and drain.
• Puree soup in a blender (or hand blender) until smooth.
• Ladle into bowls and season with salt and pepper.
• Garnish with asparagus tips.