I think you become an adult when you start making your own pasta sauce. Oh, and paying your own bills. That’s also important.
I don’t remember exactly this happened for me, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in the kitchen. I used to live on jarred pasta sauces (and vending machine food) in my college years, so I was elated and pleasantly surprised to learn how easy it is to make it from scratch.
This creamy white sauce is no exception.
This pasta was inspired by one of my favorite roasted veggies: Asparagus!
I love asparagus. It has the most amazing flavor when roasted, and is even delicious raw! Plus, it’s good for you. These little guys are packed with vitamin C, K, and folate, and are an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich food. And don’t forget the fiber! Seriously people, eat your greens with every meal.
This pasta is simple, requiring just 9 ingredients and 30 minutes!
The sauce is adapted from my Creamy Vegan Garlic Pasta (which can be made gluten free), and comes with an extra punch of flavor from fresh lemon juice. The lemon and roasted asparagus marry perfectly together in this dish to create a flavor combination I can’t get enough of.
You must make this dish! It’s
Creamy
Light
Satisfying
Simple
Lemony
Savory
Loaded with veggies
And perfect for a quick-but-healthy weeknight meal
The beautiful thing about this pasta? Leftovers are a dream. So be sure to make extra to pack for lunches during the week. If you’re anything like me, leftover pasta is a welcome mid-day treat when you don’t feel like cooking.
Enjoy this recipe! And if you do, take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram! I love seeing what readers are cooking up. Cheers!
- 1 bunch asparagus (12 ounces), trimmed and washed
- Sea salt and black pepper
- 2 lemons
- Olive oil
- 3-4 large cloves garlic, minced (~2 Tbsp)
- 10 ounces (~5 cups) bow tie pasta (see notes if GF*)
- 2.5 cups unsweetened plain almond milk
- 3-4 Tbsp all purpose flour (sub another thickener if GF*)
- 1-2 Tbsp nutritional yeast (for a subtle cheesy flavor | optional)
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add asparagus to a baking sheet and toss with 1/2 Tbsp olive oil and a pinch each salt and pepper. Top with several thin slices of lemon and bake for 20-25 minutes. Once finished cooking, remove from oven and roughly chop into thirds.
- In the meantime, bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously.
- While the water’s heating, bring a large skillet to medium heat. Once hot, add 3 Tbsp olive oil and garlic. Whisk and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes or until garlic is just starting to brown.
- Add 3 Tbsp flour and whisk. Cook for 30 seconds, then whisk in almond milk 1/2 cup at a time. TIP: Use a large flat spatula to smash down the bits of garlic and flour to properly incorporate. Add a healthy pinch salt and pepper and whisk. Slightly lower heat and continue cooking to thicken, stirring occasionally.
- Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Then drain and set aside.
- For extra creamy sauce, add sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend. Add nutritional yeast and another pinch of salt and pepper. If it looks runny, add another Tablespoon of flour (or cornstarch). Blend until creamy and smooth, using the “puree” or “liquify” setting if possible. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then add back to pan and continue cooking over medium to medium-low heat to thicken.
- Once your sauce has reached desired thickness, add the juice of half a lemon and stir.
- Add 3/4 of the chopped asparagus and the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat.
- Divide between 2-3 serving plates and top with remaining asparagus. Serve with a lemon wedge andvegan parmesan cheese.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a few days.
*If not vegan, sub cow’s milk and parmesan cheese.
*Adapted from my Creamy Vegan Garlic Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes
*Inspired by Creme de la Crumb
*Asparagus health benefits from whfoods.org
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