Asparagus and speck pasta, tasty and creamy, very quick to make, yet perfect for any occasion. In this case, I cooked the asparagus directly in the pan, adding just a little water, and blended a part of it to make the sauce creamier and more cohesive. The speck can be added during the asparagus cooking process, or browned separately (without oil) and added at the end in the dishes. Try this recipe, it’s easy but really delicious!
If you love asparagus, here are more ideas for you:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 2People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring
- Energy 220.66 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 29.45 (g) of which sugars 2.54 (g)
- Proteins 13.05 (g)
- Fat 6.10 (g) of which saturated 1.65 (g)of which unsaturated 2.63 (g)
- Fibers 3.75 (g)
- Sodium 709.69 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 11 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 5.6 oz pasta
- 10.6 oz asparagus
- 1.4 oz speck (sliced or cubed)
- 1/4 onion
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Tools
- Pan
- Pot
- Colander
- Immersion Blender
Preparation
Clean the asparagus by removing the more fibrous part of the stem, wash them well, and slice them into rounds, leaving the tips intact.
Chop the onion and fry it in a pan with a drizzle of oil, then add the asparagus and let them brown.
Moisten the bottom with a little hot water, salt, and cook the asparagus until they are tender.
Take more than half of the rounds and blend them with the immersion blender to obtain a cream.
Add the speck to the remaining asparagus, and let it flavor for a few moments (1).
Add the cream, a pinch of pepper to taste, and stir (2).
Meanwhile, boil the pasta in salted boiling water, for the necessary minutes. Drain and pour it into the pan (3).
Stir-fry the pasta for a minute, adding a bit of cooking water if necessary.
Asparagus and speck pasta is ready, divide it among plates and serve hot. If desired, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Tips and Notes
You can replace the speck with smoked bacon or cooked ham.
You can thicken the asparagus cream by adding a piece of potato, cut into small cubes.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I omit the cured meats?
Of course, if you like, you can check out the (vegetarian) recipe for Pasta with Asparagus Cream for more inspiration.
