Spaghetti with asparagus, smoked cheese, and crunchy shallot is a perfect pasta dish for spring time! It’s an easy and simple recipe, and you will not miss plenty of flavors and colors.
Finally, the days are longer and the garden is blooming with colorful vegetables and fruits. Never forget to check the local stores and farmers markets to get the fresher and riper products.
The green asparagus are the main ingredient of this plate, cooked with different textures so their taste will blow up.
Moreover, this recipe aims to be naturally eco-sustainable: you will not waste the water where you cook the vegetables. Just try to boil the past in it and you will be surprised by the intense flavor!
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb (320 g) spaghetti pasta
- 1 1/2 lb (600 g) green asparagus
- 1/4 cup (60 g) smoked cheese - Provolone does the job
- 3 shallots
- EVO, and mint leaves to taste
- 1 boiled yolk
Instructions
- Wash throughly the asparagus, and cut off the hard part.
- Blanch the asparagus in boiling water for 3 minutes; drain them and wash them with cold water. KEEP THE BLANCHING WATER TO COOK THE PASTA!
- Blend half of the asparagus with 3 mint leaves and add salt and pepper to taste until you get a creamy texture.
- Add some EVO to the other asparagus and grill them for 2-3 minuti.
- Chop the tops in half and chop the stems as well.
- Boil the blanching water for the pasta.
- In the meanwhile, finely slice the shallots and brown them in a pan with EVO. Add the grilled asparagus and let them cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Cook the spaghetti "al dente" and keep a small cup of water on the side.
- Put the spaghetti in a pan with the asparagus cream, add the chopped asparagus and shallots; add some water if it drains too much.
- Switch off the heat and add the smoked provolone cheese in small pieces. If you like it, add also the boiled yolk in dust.
How many varieties of asparagus can you find?
How many varieties of asparagus can you find?
The most famous in Italy is the green asparagus. It has a sweet and intense flavor, and a crunchy texture.
The white asparagus have a more delicate taste, while they are famous around the world, in particular the Asparagus of Bassano. Bassano is a small town close by Vicenza, our home town. We will tall more about it later on.
Moreover, the purple asparagus is softer and sweeter.
Did you know that the first recipes with asparagus come from Egypt 2000 years ago?
Probably because of the many nutrients of this vegetable. Not only the asparagus is low in calories but it’s a great source of fiber, folate and vitamins A, C and K. Additionally, eating asparagus has a number of potential health benefits, including weight loss, improved digestion, healthy pregnancy outcomes and lower blood pressure.
So what are you waiting for? Always search for the high quality product in your local stores or farmers markets, and enjoy one more Italian simple and seasonal recipe!
ENJOY your Flavorful Spaghetti with Asparagus, Smoked Cheese, and Crunchy Shallot!
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Ciao!
Martina and Elisa
