Quick and Easy Asparagus
This is always a super busy time of year with weddings and events ramping up, new enquiries flooding in (the sunshine seems to make people propose!!) and the garden suddenly springing into action too. Even more than ever I struggle to find enough hours in the day and this lovely spring recipe is a firm favourite of mine. Not only is it super quick and easy to put together, but it includes one of my absolute favourite seasonal foods – asparagus! It is one of those recipes you can throw together if friends pop in unexpectedly for a relaxed weekend lunch, and really does taste delicious. I love the way the bright green asparagus really ‘zings’.
Serves 6-8
Preparation time 5-10 minutes
Cooking time 20-25 minutes
Ingredients
- 25g Butter
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 300g Chicken cut into strips
- 1 small onion finely sliced
- 2 Cloves garlic; crushed
- 375g Dried pasta penne
- 1,100g fine asparagus
- 1,250g mascarpone
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Zest of 1 Lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley; finely chopped
Instructions
Heat the butter and oil in a frying pan over a moderate heat, sauté the chicken for 15 minutes, then add the onions and garlic and sauté for another 5 minutes or until softened. Cook the pasta as per pack instructions, adding the asparagus 1 minute before the cooking time is complete. Drain the pasta and add to the pan along with the mascarpone, seasoning and lemon zest. Stir to combine, then heat through. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately with a green salad.
In Season this month
Fruits & Nuts
Cherries, Elderflowers, Rhubarb
Vegetables & Herbs
Asparagus, Broccoli, Carrots, Lettuce, New Potatoes, Radishes, Rocket, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onions, Watercress
Meat & Game
Lamb, Wood Pigeon
Fish & Shellfish
Cod, Crab, Dover Sole, Halibut, John Dory, Lemon Sole, Plaice, Salmon, Sea Bass, Sea Trout
Going out of season
Morel Mushrooms