Pasta with Spring Vegetables, Bathed in Cream
Marian Bull
Photo by Eric Moran
- Serves
- 2 to 3, and can easily be doubled
- Prep Time
- 20 Minutes
- Cook Time
- 25 Minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pasta (I like reginetti, orecchiette, or something that will aptly hold on to peas and cream)
- 1/2 pound frozen or fresh peas (I bet you could also use slices of asparagus, if you really wanted to)
- 4 scallions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon good butter (preferably salted)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 pinch salt, plus more to taste
- 12 big mint leaves, or a small handful, kept whole until the last minute
- 2 tablespoon snipped chives or tarragon, optional
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Directions
- Step 1
Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water—make sure it is salty like the sea! In the last minute of cooking, add your peas and scallions. I like to thaw my frozen peas at least partially, so the water comes back to a boil as quickly as possible. Reserve some pasta cooking water (about 1/2 cup), then drain the pasta, peas, and scallions into a colander with small holes (you don't want to lose all your scallion friends!).
- Step 2
Return your empty pot to the stove. Warm the butter and cream over medium-low heat, until the cream starts to bubble and the butter is totally melted. Add the drained pasta, peas, and scallions, plus the grated Parmesan (be generous; be daring) and lots of black pepper. (Really. Lots!)
- Step 3
Stir everything together, and add a bit of pasta water to thin out the sauce. Start with 1/4 cup, then add as you see fit. Taste for salt, and add a bit more—flaky preferred—if you deem it necessary.
- Step 4
Divide your creamy pasta goodness into bowls, then bunch up your mint and snip it into thin ribbons with clean kitchen scissors, scattering it as a garnish. I cut it at the last minute to keep it from turning brown; you can also just use a knife if you like. You can also add chives, or tarragon, or any combination of the three—they all play well with peas and cream.