Pasta Primavera

With spring in full swing there's no better time to make Pasta Primavera, which literally translates from Italian to Spring Pasta. This dish traditionally features fresh spring-produce like peas and asparagus, but feel free to switch up the produce to your liking. The garlic, lemon, and parmesan in this recipe add the perfect punch of flavor to complement the brightness of the vegetables.

This recipe was developed for East Fork Pottery.

Makes 4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces

1 red bell pepper, cut into ¼ inch slices

1 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and into ¼ inch half-moons

1 medium red onion, thinly sliced

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

½ cup frozen peas

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1lb campanelle, or any similar pasta 

2 tablespoons butter

1 lemon, juiced

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

¼ cup parsley, roughly chopped

3 oz parmesan cheese, grated

Kosher Salt 

METHOD

1. Place a large pot of salted water on high heat and bring it to a boil. 

2. Arrange the asparagus, bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, and cherry tomatoes on a lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season liberally with kosher salt and crushed red pepper flakes. Place the vegetables under the broiler for around 10 minutes or until cooked through and slightly charred. 

3. In the meantime, add the pasta to the boiling water, cook according to the package instructions until al dente, and drain, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water. 

4. To a large pot on medium heat, add the butter, sliced garlic, and remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and is beginning to brown. Add the frozen peas, followed by the lemon juice, and stir to warm the peas through. Add the vegetables, cooked pasta, parsley, and parmesan and stir to coat the pasta, using the reserved pasta water as needed to form a silky sauce. Taste for salt and adjust as desired. 

5. Serve in large bowls topped with extra parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.