Creamy Asparagus Pasta With Peas and Mint from NYT

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  • 1 teaspoon fine sea or table salt, more as needed
  • 1 pound short pasta, such as campanelle
  • 1 pound asparagus (about 1 bunch), trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup frozen green peas (no need to thaw)
  • 4 scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced
  • ¼ teaspoon red-pepper flakes
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan, more for serving
  • 1 lemon, zested and halved
  • ½ cup chopped fresh mint (or use parsley, basil or dill), for serving
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions.
  2. As the pasta boils, slice asparagus stems into ¼-inch-thick pieces; leave asparagus tips whole.
  3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus, peas, scallions and red-pepper flakes. Cook until vegetables are bright green and just tender (but not soft or mushy), 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more. Season with the salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper; pour mixture into a large serving bowl.
  4. To the same skillet, add the heavy cream, ½ cup grated Parmesan and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Simmer until reduced and thick, about 2 to 3 minutes. Return vegetables to the skillet and toss with the sauce to reheat.
  5. When the pasta is done, reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain well.
  6. Immediately put the hot pasta in the same bowl you used for the vegetables and toss with remaining ¼ cup grated Parmesan, lemon zest and mint. Add vegetable-cream mixture and the juice of half a lemon, and toss well. If the mixture looks thick, add a little pasta water to loosen it; it should be saucy. Taste and season generously with salt, pepper and more lemon juice as needed; it should taste bright and lively. Serve, topping each bowl with more Parmesan, mint and a drizzle of olive oil.