It’s a good weekend for pasta. You know how I know? Every weekend is a good weekend for pasta.
Too easy.
If there’s also a couch involved in the weekend pasta plans… game over. Consider me done!
There are really great things happening in this big bowl of weekend pasta.
It’s Spring and we’re taking full advantage. Asparagus, yes. It’s even boiled with the pasta so laziness isn’t an excuse. Fresh herbs and lemon brighten the whole deal into oblivion. Olive oil… the good kind that you actually want to eat instead of butter.
We’re adding pistachios too because I’ve just discovered that Pistachios Crusted Asparagus is the best thing ever and the two should always and forever be paired together.
Lastly we’re adding mega special Bottarga. Have you ever tried this stuff?
Bottarga is salted and cured fish roe. Yea… get into it. In this preparation the Bottarga is grated into tiny flakes. It’s fishy and super salty and takes the place of Parmesan cheese in this pasta. So much flavor! It’s unique and special.
Actually wait… what’s so special about this Bottarga is that is was handmade by my friend Jill in NYC. It’s love, and gorgeous grated Bottarga can also be yours. I’m already plotting sprinkling my eggs tomorrow with Bottarga. This obsession has taken root.
Ok now… let’s pasta.
Consider this pasta a dump-and-toss situation. You’ll need a large bowl, a big ol’ spoon, and a cat that wants to eat any rogue mozzarella balls that fly over the edge of the bowl and onto the floor.
I like this pasta best served at a warm room temperature, extra lemon, extra chili flakes.
The Botttarga is sprinkled onto the pasta just before serving. It’s sprinkled with reverence and thanks to the friends that work so hard to make it. The Bottarga adds the perfect salty balance to the bright herbs and earth asparagus. It’s all very well done. Everything you deserve for pasta weekend.
I love you! Happy Friday!
Lemon and Asparagus Pasta with Pistachios and Mozzarella
serves 4
1/2 pound dried curly pasta (I used Cavatappi pasta)
1 pound asparagus, chopped into large pieces
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
1 heaping cup small mozzarella balls, sliced in half
1 handful fresh parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
1 small handful fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
juice of 1 to 2 lemons (depending on how lemony you like your pasta)
1 handful shelled roasted and salted pistachios, coarsely chopped
1 to 2 teaspoons Bottarga (optional)
salt and crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
Bring a large pot of water to a simmer. Add a good pinch of salt and the pasta. Cook until the pasta has just become al dente and add the chopped asparagus. Cook until the pasta is cooked through and the asparagus is bright green, soft, but still slightly crisp. Drain in a colander and see aside.
In the same pot that you cooked the pasta in, add the olive oil to the warm pan. Return the pasta and asparagus to the pan and toss. Drizzle in lemon juice. Sprinkle in cheese pieces, fresh herbs, pistachios, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Taste and season accordingly.
Serve slightly warm or at room temperature sprinkled with as much Bottarga as you’d like.
Mia
I tried it tonight – added red onion and garlic, used cayenne pepper instead. Yum! The combination is so innovative! What a healthy and quick meal.
schnuffichen
I made this last weekend and it was to diiiiiiieeeeeee (dieieieieie?) for! I just love you and your blog and the amazing things you come up with! :)
Marcus
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Makan (Indonesian for Enjoy)
Chloe
pistachios in a pasta dish! i love it..i’m not great at thinking outside the box for these things so i love it when other people do it for me!!
beautfiul photos!
lesley kim
i have to try this!! yummm!!
http://www.lesley-kim.com
shineshka
I made this pasta last night and it was delicious! Thank you for the great recipe!
Elisa
Oh YUM!! I just made this for dinner! It worked well with my GF brown rice elbows and Bella Gioioso fresh mozz (it’s GF too). I had to omit the pistachios due to nut allergy but the kiddos had them on their portions and liked them. Didn’t do the caviar. My son has sensory issues with his mouth and didn’t care for the textures of the herbs, I might have to do a sort of pesto next time.
Thanks for the non tomato idea!!! (i’m allergic and intolerant to lots of things)
I found and I altered a gluten free mix that is safe for me and that worked on a cake, so I’m off in the morning to make your lemon cake with the lemon poppyseed buttercream icing!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane
Botarga? Never heard of it, but it sounds intriguing. The pasta sounds heavenly, though. I had a similarly simple pasta at a restaurant this lunchtime with lots of lemon, chili and olive oil and it was so surprisingly satisfying and tasty. Eager to try this … there are so many lovely ingredients in there!
Diane Leach
I too, love this blog!
Julia M
I make a very similar version but add sun dried tomatoes and without the flaked fish stuff.
Kristin | Dine X Design
I snacked on some of this last night – thumbs up!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
spring in a bowl, I love it!
Eileen
Oh, yes please! I will take any and every excuse to eat all the bocconcini possible, and this is such a great one. Especially since it also means I can cram my face full of fresh spring asparagus and crunchy pistachios! YES.
Taylor
Yummy! This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it this weekend! So fresh and spring-a-ling-y (oh wait, that’s not a word? Well, I’m making it one now because this is what this pasts is evoking thoughts of in my head).
xoxo
Taylor
but i'm hungry
Now THIS is my kind of pasta! I love tossing in veg with pasta at the end to cook… so much easier and then everything is tossed already for me! Now to get some of that Bottarga… mmmmm…
sundiegoeats
For some reason do not like cavatappi pasta (or anythin resembling elbow shape pasta) but this recipe looks like it would be delicious with any other shape of pasta :) Pistachios are criminally under used for everything.
Claudia
????????????
Cheyenne Wehren
this sounds like the perfect spring pasta!
xo, cheyenne
Greg
I would like to make this, but my wife has fish allergies. What is the best substitute for the bottarga? Just adding Parmesan cheese at the end does not seem to be right. Thanks.
Rebekah {aCricketSang}
Looks simple and delicious!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I am soooo into this recipe. Perfect for Spring!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I love that you’re such a fan of pistachios. Me too! And those little mozz balls are so cute – love those things! pinned
Tamsin | A Certain Adventure
this looks so delicious! i love the use of the mozzarella bocconcini, and i am addicted to bottarga (had it in sardinia last summer, brought back about ten jars with me. eat it with everything). thanks for this recipe – it’s gonna come in handy this summer for sure! x
Sophie Harriet
This looks scrumptious – a perfect recipe for my final weekend I’ll spend cramming for finals! It’s simple to make but summery enough to remind me of what is to come after exams! A perfect combination! Thanks Joy!
Rachel
Joy this looks simply divine. and i now feel a bit left out not having a cat; but this time to hoover up the little bits of popcorn still on the kitchen floor from a little accident i had yesterday!
Aminah
I love this blog, keep the good work going