Asparagus Pasta

You'll want to add this pasta recipe to your weeknight dinner rotation: It's simple enough to whip up at the last minute but tasty enough to serve at a dinner party, too! This dish is especially delicious in the spring, when asparagus is in season, and the lemon makes it all taste even more fresh and bright. The light, creamy sauce couldn't be easier: You crisp the bacon and then use the same pan (with all those delicious bacon bits stuck on the bottom!) to warm the butter and cream. Then you stir in lots of parmesan and toss the sauce with hot fettuccine. Once all these delicious flavors come together, you'll make an asparagus fan out of even the most die-hard skeptic. Pair the finished dish with a fresh arugula salad to round out the meal.

How do you trim asparagus?

Cut each stalk right where the white part meets the light green part. A popular trick has you snapping off the ends with your fingers, but this often breaks off too much of the tender part you’ll want to keep. Cut the trimmed spears into 2-inch pieces, keeping the tops whole (they're the sweetest part and they soaks up all the saucy goodness).

What can you use instead of asparagus in this pasta?

Not a fan of asparagus? Swap it with chopped broccoli florets, chopped kale, or shredded Brussels sprouts. The creamy, lemony pasta is the star of the show here, so feel free to choose your own adventure with the vegetables.

Can you make it without bacon?

Yes! While crispy, salty bacon is exceptionally tasty in this pasta, it can be omitted to make this a vegetarian dinner.

Why do you save pasta water?

Hot pasta cooking water is the ideal ingredient for thinning out a sauce. The water is full of starches from the noodles, so it adds some texture and flavor to the sauce (far more than just regular water!).

Is grated parmesan the same as shredded?

If you buy pre-grated parmesan cheese at the store, it's usually finely ground (the variety found in a tub or shaker), or shredded and sold in long, thin shreds. This recipe calls for freshly shredded parmesan: Start with a block of parmesan and grate it on the small holes of a box grater. Freshly shredded parmesan will melt quickly and evenly into the sauce and will give your dish a fantastic nutty flavor.

What should you serve with asparagus pasta?

This pasta is so simple, you can enjoy it all on its own for a quick weeknight dinner. But if you want to add a bit to your menu, serve it alongside pull-apart garlic bread, spring salad with radishes, or a springy pea salad.