Lemon adds zing to pasta dish
This lemony pasta with peas, fava beans and asparagus from Maria Elia’s “The Modern Vegetarian” remains brightly flavored and beautiful to look at even when edamame are substituted for the fava beans.
Capri Lemon Pasta with Peas, Fava Beans and Asparagus
Start to finish: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound fresh fava beans, shelled (or 5 1/2 ounces frozen fava beans or shelled edamame)
14-ounce package fresh pasta (linguine, tagliatelle or spaghetti)
1 pound fresh peas, shelled (or 5 1/2 ounces frozen)
4 tablespoons mascarpone
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Small bunch fresh basil, leaves torn
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-low combine the cream and lemon zest. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
Once the water has boiled, add the asparagus, fava beans, pasta and peas. Cook for 3 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and produce.
Pour the warmed cream and lemon zest into the pasta cooking pot. Add the lemon juice, mascarpone and reserved pasta cooking water. Return to a boil, then add the pasta and vegetables.
Add the Parmesan, basil, salt and pepper. Toss well.
— Recipe from Maria Elia’s “The Modern Vegetarian,” Kyle Books, 2009