Penne With Asparagus And Lemon Cream Sauce Eating Well Food

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS-LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Snap the tough butt ends off the asparagus or peel to the tender core.
• Cut the stmes into 1" pieces.
• Reserve the asparagus tips Bring 5-6 qts water to rolling boil, add 2-3 Tbs salt, and cook asparagus stems for 6-8 minutes until soft and totally tender.
• Remove stems with slotted spoon, refresh in cold water, and drain Cook the tips in the boiling water for 3-5 minutes until tender, remove with a slotted spoon, refresh in cold wate, and drain.
• Reserve asparagus cooking water.
• Puree the stems in a food processor with lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 cup asparagus cookign water, and salt and pepper to taste; transfer the sauce to a 3 qt pot.
• Return the remaining asparagus cooking water to a rolling boil, add the pasta, and cook until it still offers considerable resistance to the tooth, around three quarters of the recommended cooking time.
• Drain, reserving 2 cups of pasta water.
• Add pasta, asparagus tips, and 1/2 cup starchy water to asparagus stem puree and cook ina 3 qt pot over highest heat, stirring for 3-5 minutes until pasta is almost cooked and sauce coats pasta.
• Add more pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, if sauce becomes too dry.
• Sauce should surround pasta but be slightly liquid since cheese will thicken it.
• Add the grated Parmigiano, heat for an additional minute to melt the cheese and serve immediately.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare pasta according to box directions.
• While pasta is cooking, wash asparagus, break off the woody stems and arrange on a cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper. Broil for 5-10 minutes until the asparagus is tender (to your personal taste). Once cooked, chop asparagus roughly and toss it with drained pasta in a large serving bowl.
• Melt butter in a sauce pan and add garlic, sauteing until it is turning golden and fragrant. Remove from heat.
• Whisk in wheat flour to form a roux, being careful to avoid any lumps. When it is perfectly smooth, add white wine, whisking to incorporate.
• Return saute pan to the heat, allow alcohol to evaporate (should take about 30 seconds) and immediately whisk in heavy cream.
• Continuing to whisk, add shredded Gouda and stir gently until it melts. Once melted, add remaining ingredients and bring to temp., or just until the sauce begins to bubble.
• Pour sauce over pasta and asparagus. Toss and garnish with toasted walnuts, if desired.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND LEMON-PARMESAN CREAM

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring often, until it's just tender, about 9 minutes.
• Scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water and set aside, then stir in the asparagus and cook until both the penne and the asparagus are tender, about 2 minutes.
• Drain well and return the asparagus and pasta to the pot along with 3/4 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano, cream, 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Set over medium heat and cook, stirring for a couple of minutes so cheese melts; add more of the pasta water if mixture becomes dry.
• Stir in the chives, lemon zest and the lemon juice. Season generously with salt, pepper and more lemon juice to taste.
• Serve with a sprinkling of the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS, RICOTTA AND LEMON

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of light salted water to a boil for cooking the penne.
• Stir together the ricotta, 1/4 cup of the parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
• Add the penne to the boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally for 4 minutes. Add the asparagus and cook until the penne is al dente (Do not overcook penne) and the asparagus is tender, 4 to 5 minutes longer. Reserve 1/3 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and asparagus and place in a large bowl.
• Add 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the ricotta mixture, whisking until smooth. Toss the pasta with the ricotta sauce.
• Pass the remaining parmesan separately.
• One serving is 11/2 cups.
• VARIATION: Penne with Spinach, Ricotta, and Lemon.
• In step 3 omit the asparagus; cook the penne for 8 to10 minutes. While the penne is cooking, cook one 10 ounce (300-gram) package of frozen spinach according to package directions. In step 4 Toss the penne with the ricotta sauce and spinach.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS-LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces, reserving tips separately. Cook asparagus stems in 5 to 6 quarts boiling water with 2 tablespoons salt until very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a colander, reserving cooking water in pot, and rinse under cold water. Drain asparagus well and transfer to a food processor or blender.
• Cook asparagus tips in same boiling water until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to colander, reserving boiling water in pot, and rinse under cold water. Drain tips well.
• Purée asparagus stems with zest, oil, and 1/2 cup asparagus cooking water. Transfer sauce to a 4-quart saucepan.
• Cook pasta in boiling asparagus cooking water until it still offers considerable resistance to the tooth, around three fourths of the recommended cooking time. Reserve 2 cups cooking water and drain pasta.
• Add pasta, asparagus tips, and 1/2 cup reserved water to asparagus sauce and cook over high heat, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes, or until pasta is almost al dente and sauce coats pasta. Add more cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until sauce coats pasta but is a little loose (the cheese will thicken it slightly).
• Stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, until cheese is melted.
• Serve immediately.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Melt butter with oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add asparagus and sauté 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to bowl. Add onions and garlic to Dutch oven. Sauté until light golden, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juices, oregano and crushed red pepper. Bring sauce to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon and stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Return asparagus to sauce. Cook until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add penne and 1/2 cup cheese. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer pasta to large bowl. Serve, passing additional cheese separately.

SALMON PENNE WITH BASIL PESTO CREAM SAUCE, ARTICHOKES, AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the salmon into 1 inch cubes and place in a buttered baking dish. Add the lemon juice to the melted butter and drizzle over the salmon. Season the salmon with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork. Do not let the salmon overcook. Remove immediately from the oven and keep warm.
• While the salmon is cooking, add the pasta to a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cut the asparagus into 1 inch pieces. Add the asparagus to the boiling water during the last three to five minutes of cooking. Drain and put in a large serving bowl.
• While the salmon and pasta are cooking, combine the butter, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and half-and-half in a saucepan. Season with garlic salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat. Add the pesto at this point. Go light with the pesto to ensure the sauce is lightly flavored.
• Mix the artichoke hearts with the asparagus and penne pasta and pour the sauce over the pasta mixture. Mix lightly to coat everything. Add the salmon cubes to the top of the pasta. If desired, serve with extra parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper.

PASTA ALFREDO WITH LEMON AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks, cream, cheese, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to combine.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 2 minutes less than per package instructions. Add asparagus; cook until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes more. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain.
• Return pasta and asparagus to pot along with egg mixture. Toss until well combined, adding a few tablespoons of pasta water at a time until sauce coats pasta. Add lemon juice; season to taste. Serve immediately, with more cheese, pepper, and lemon zest.

PENNE PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the asparagus into one inch pieces; reserving the tips.
• Cook asparagus in 5 quarts of water until very tender 6-8 minutes.
• Reserve the water by using a slotted spoon to remove the asparagus to a colander.
• Put the drained asparagus in a food processor.
• Cook the tips for 3-5 minutes until just tender.
• Remove from water with slotted spoon, reserving the water.
• Puree the stems with the lemon zest and oil and 1/2 cup of the asparagus water.
• Cook the pasta in the asparagus water to your liking.
• Drain the pasta saving 2 cups of the water.
• Combine the pasta, asparagus sauce and add asparagus water if the sauce is too thick- a little at a time.
• Stir in tips and grated cheese.
• Stir until cheese is melted.
• Serve with a light dusting of chopped parsley.