Asparagus Pasta with Lemon and Parmesan – Bright Vegetarian Dinner Idea
A light and vibrant pasta dish featuring tender asparagus, fresh lemon, garlic, and Parmesan tossed with warm spaghetti.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
12 ounces spaghetti or linguine
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup pasta cooking water
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Extra Parmesan for serving
Optional red pepper flakes
Instructions
-
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente.
-
Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
-
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
-
Add garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
-
Add asparagus, salt, and pepper. Cook 4–6 minutes until bright green and tender.
-
Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice.
-
Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with asparagus.
-
Sprinkle Parmesan and add a splash of reserved pasta water.
-
Toss until a light sauce forms and pasta looks glossy.
-
Mix in chopped parsley and serve with additional Parmesan.
Notes
Cook asparagus briefly to keep it crisp. Add small amounts of pasta water as needed to create a silky coating.