Creamy Spring Vegetable Pasta Primavera
A delicious and vibrant pasta dish featuring seasonal vegetables in a creamy lemon garlic sauce, perfect for springtime meals.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine or linguine pasta Use any pasta of choice; these work beautifully.
Vegetables
- 1 cup snap peas, trimmed
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional) Optional, can omit.
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option) Can substitute for dairy-free alternatives.
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Can substitute with nutritional yeast for vegan option.
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional) Optional, for garnish.
Instructions
Preparation
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 9-11 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the rest.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add snap peas and asparagus, and cook for about 4-5 minutes until tender-crisp. Stir in spinach and optional cherry tomatoes; cook for another 1-2 minutes until spinach wilts. Season with salt and pepper, then remove from heat.
Sauce Preparation
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream, stirring to combine. Let simmer for 3-4 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, adding reserved pasta water as needed for consistency.
Combine
- Return cooked vegetables to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss together over low heat for 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to coat the pasta and vegetables.
- Stir in fresh herbs and serve immediately, garnishing with extra Parmesan and lemon zest if desired.
Notes
For additional flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce, or swap Parmesan for pecorino cheese. Whole wheat pasta is a nutritious alternative.