Pasta With Asparagus And Gremolata

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped lemon zest
• 3/4 lb fusilli (or rigatoni or linguine)
• 1 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• salt, to taste
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 -3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 start by heating a large pot full of water.
• 2 in a small bowl, mix together the garlic, parsley, and lemon zest; set aside.
• 3 when the water is boiling, add 1 tablespoon salt and gradually add the pasta.
• 4 stir, making sure the pasta does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
• 5 four to five minutes before the end of the pasta cooking time, add the asparagus to the pot.
• 6 boil until the pasta is al dente (firm to the bite); check the package for time indications--usually 8-10 minutes, although very thin pasta cooks more quickly.
• 7 drain the asparagus and pasta.
• 8 toss the pasta and asparagus in a warm serving bowl with the garlic/parsley/lemon mixture, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
• 9 sprinkle individual servings with parmesan cheese.
• 10 note--you may prepare the garlic mixture an hour before serving.