Orange Asparagus Pasta 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.

ASPARAGUS WITH ORANGE GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Wash asparagus and snap off tough ends. Place in a steamer basket and steam until just tender, about 5 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, stir together juice, zest and cornstarch.
• Cook over medium-high heat until boiling. Let thicken and reduce while stirring with a whisk, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add grated ginger.
• Place asparagus on a serving plate and pour sauce over asparagus; top with toasted almonds.

LINGUINE WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, peas, green beans, spring onions, yellow onion and a pinch of salt. Cook just until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Add the heavy cream and chicken stock and cook until reduced slightly, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Drain the pasta and transfer to the sauce; toss gently. Transfer everything to a serving bowl. Garnish with the parmesan and basil.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
• While the water is coming to a boil, slice snap peas and asparagus stems into 1/4-inch-thick pieces; leave asparagus tips whole.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add snap peas, asparagus, English peas and onion. Cook until vegetables are barely tender (but not too soft or mushy), 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Drop pasta into boiling water and cook until al dente (1 to 3 minutes for fresh pasta, more for dried pasta). Drain well and transfer pasta to a large bowl. Immediately toss pasta with vegetables, Parmigiano-Reggiano, crème fraîche and herbs. Season generously with salt and pepper, if needed.

STIR-FRIED ASPARAGUS AND BASIL WITH SPICY ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the orange juice, soy sauce, and hot red pepper flakes in a small bowl and set aside.
• Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus. If the asparagus are thin, cut them on the diagonal into 2-inch pieces. If the asparagus are average or thicker, cut the spears in half lengthwise and then on the diagonal in 2-inch pieces.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet set over high heat. When the oil is shimmering but not smoking, add the asparagus and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Push the asparagus to the sides of the pan and place the garlic and ginger in the center. Drizzle the remaining 1 teaspoon oil over the garlic and ginger. Cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add the orange juice mixture, toss to coat well, and cover. Cook until the asparagus are tender, 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears.
• Remove the cover and add the basil. Stir-fry until the sauce has reduced to a thick glaze, about 30 seconds. Serve immediately.

FETTUCCINE WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Cut off tough ends of asparagus spears. Cut each on the bias into 1-inch lengths. There should be about 1 1/2 cups. Rinse well and drain.
• Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook about 2 minutes. Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Drop the fettuccine into salted boiling water. Let cook to desired degree of doneness (cooking time will range from about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes for fresh pasta to 9 minutes or more for dried). Reserve 2 tablespoons cooking water. Drain the pasta.
• Heat the butter in the pot in which the pasta was cooked. Add the asparagus pieces and the fettuccine. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of cooking water and basil. Toss to blend. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese on the side.

BRAISED WHITE ASPARAGUS WITH BLOOD-ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Snap off ends of asparagus. Trim triangular leaves from sides, and peel spears. Place in single layer in heavy saucepan. Add enough stock to come about halfway up sides of spears. Add 2 tablespoons butter, place bay leaf on top, cover and cook over medium-high heat about 8 minutes, until spears are very tender.
• Meanwhile juice 3 blood oranges. Place all but 1 tablespoon juice in another saucepan, and simmer until reduced to 3 tablespoons. Whisk in remaining butter, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Set aside. Peel remaining orange, removing all pith. Divide into segments, removing all membrane.
• Drain asparagus well, and place side by side on each of two large plates. Spoon blood orange sauce onto plates around spears. Drizzle asparagus with oil, allowing some droplets to fall into sauce. Dust lightly with salt and pepper. Top with cluster of blood-orange segments, and serve.