Description
Pasta Primavera is basically spring in a bowl! I came up with this version a few years ago when my farmers market was bursting with early veggies and I couldn’t decide what to buy – so I bought EVERYTHING. “Primavera” literally means “spring” in Italian, and this dish is all about celebrating those bright, fresh veggies with perfectly cooked pasta and a light, lemony sauce that lets everything shine. It’s colorful, it’s fresh, and it makes you feel like you’re eating something healthy even though there’s definitely cheese involved.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta:
- 1 pound pasta (I like fettuccine or penne, but any shape works)
- Salt for the pasta water (and I mean LOTS – the water should taste like the sea)
For the Veggie Party:
- 2 zucchini, sliced into half-moons
- 1 yellow squash, sliced into half-moons
- 1 bunch asparagus, woody ends removed, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (or more, I won’t judge)
- 1 cup frozen peas (don’t bother thawing)
For the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup olive oil (use the good stuff here)
- Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (trust me, this is liquid gold)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional, but come on, live a little)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to your spice preference)
For the Finishing Touches:
- Handful of fresh basil leaves, torn
- Extra Parmesan for sprinkling
- Drizzle of good olive oil