This Pasta with Asparagus & Buffalo Mozzarella is tossed in a flavorful herb pesto – keeping it healthy, vegetarian, and so deliciously addictive. Homemade pesto has basil, thyme, capers, lemon juice and zest, and a glug of olive oil. The dish itself requires green onions and asparagus and can be ready in time for the pasta to be cooked. All together, it makes for a quick-cooking pasta dish, perfect for the weeknight dinner.
Start the recipe off by cooking the pasta in plenty of salted, boiling water. Before you drain the pasta, reserve some of the pasta cooking water to help you make a delicious pesto sauce at the end. In the meantime, sauté the green onions and asparagus, shaking often, until crisp-tender for 3-4 minutes. For the pesto, just combine all of the pesto ingredients in a food processor and pulse until creamy, then season with salt and black pepper. Add the hot pasta to the skillet with asparagus and green onions, then add the pesto and a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water. Toss well and divide the pasta between plates. Break the buffalo mozzarella balls in half and lay on top of the pasta. Serve the pasta up immediately with an extra drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of black pepper!
To make the Pasta with Asparagus & Buffalo Mozzarella, you will need the following ingredients:
In a pot of salted boiling water, cook 5 ounces linguine according to the package directions. Once cooked, reserve ½ a cup pasta cooking water and drain the pasta.
In the meantime, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet and add 2 chopped green onions and 8 ounces chopped asparagus. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, combine zest and juice of ½ a lemon ½ cup basil leaves, 6 sprigs fresh thyme leaves, 2 tablespoons capers, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a blender and pulse until creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Add the cooked pasta, pesto and some of the reserved pasta cooking water to the skillet with asparagus and onions and toss well.
Divide the pasta between plates and top with buffalo mozzarella. Serve garnished with an extra drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of black pepper.
Enjoy your pasta night with this delicious Pasta with Asparagus & Buffalo Mozzarella recipe! Fresh pesto gives the pasta rich flavor, while asparagus and green onions add extra veggie goodness. Made it? Tag us @cookmerecipes on Instagram and hashtag it #cookmerecipes!
