Pasta with Asparagus, Pine Nuts, and Lemon

I'm a pasta girl. I probably eat it way more than I should considering all of the carbs but it is such a quick and tasty meal on a weeknight. Especially when you are a single gal in the city...on a budget hmmm...that sounds rather sad now that I think of it.

I saw this recipe on Serious Eats a few months back and immediately saved it for later. It had three things I love: asparagus, pasta, and lemon. Like the pasta, I could eat asparagus nearly everyday. It is one of my favorite vegetables and I eat it whenever I get the chance. And lemon is always a lovely flavor, whether it's a savory dish or something sweeter.

This was a delicious and easy pasta dish. Not only did it come together quickly and consist of simple ingredients, it was full of flavor. Sometimes those quick and easy dishes are just too blah. Definitely not so in this case. And you could easily substitute any veggie you happened to have on hand or what was in season. Zucchini would be a tasty addition.

Pasta with Asparagus, Pine Nuts, and Lemon

- serves 2 -

Adapted from Pasta for All Seasons by Robin Robertson via Serious Eats

Ingredients

1/4 cup pine nuts
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 pound asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound pasta (I used angel hair pasta)
Zest and juice of one lemon
Salt and pepper

Procedure

1. Toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat. It will take about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.

2. Pour the olive oil into the skillet over medium heat. Toss in the garlic and the asparagus. Cook until the asparagus has softened, about 4 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. When it's done, remove from the pot and toss directly into the pan with the asparagus. Cook for a minute. Turn off the heat.

4. Add the lemon juice and zest and season with salt and pepper. Stir until combined. Serve up.