Pasta Primavera Light Cream (Print Version)
Fresh veggies and a zesty lemon cream come together in this vibrant, quick pasta primavera dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 -
8 ounces penne pasta
→ Vegetables
02 -
1 cup broccoli florets
03 -
1 cup zucchini, sliced
04 -
1/2 cup green beans, trimmed
05 -
1/2 cup bell pepper, sliced
06 -
1/2 cup asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
07 -
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 -
1/2 cup onion, sliced
09 -
1 cup fresh peas
→ Sauce
10 -
4 cloves garlic, minced
11 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 -
1 cup light vegetable broth
13 -
1/2 cup heavy cream
14 -
Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
15 -
1 teaspoon lemon zest
16 -
1/2 cup grated vegetarian Parmesan cheese
→ Herbs
17 -
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
18 -
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
19 -
1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped
→ Seasoning
20 -
1 tablespoon kosher salt (for pasta water)
21 -
Black pepper, to taste
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and season with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Cook penne pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
02 -
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sliced onion; cook until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add broccoli, green beans, and asparagus; sauté for 5 minutes until tender-crisp.
03 -
Stir in zucchini, bell pepper, peas, and cherry tomatoes. Cook for an additional 3 minutes, then remove vegetables from the skillet and set aside to prevent overcooking.
04 -
To the same skillet, add vegetable broth, heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
05 -
Return sautéed vegetables to the skillet and add cooked pasta. Toss together, adding reserved pasta water small amounts at a time as needed to achieve desired sauce consistency.
06 -
Remove from heat and stir in grated vegetarian Parmesan. Season with black pepper to taste and sprinkle fresh basil, parsley, and mint on top before serving.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
Cooking pasta in well-seasoned water enhances flavor as the light sauce is not heavily seasoned.
02 -
Add softer vegetables later to maintain texture and prevent mushiness.
03 -
Toss pasta with sauce in the skillet to ensure even coating; adding pasta cooking water helps sauce adhere better.