Bring the flavours of the Mediterranean into your home with this classic dish, pasta primavera. Although it uses classic Italian ingredients, the delicious dish was actually invented in America. We've included delicious seasonal spring ingredients to make it taste extra fresh and look beautifully colorful—and to help you hit your five-a-day. So say goodbye to boring bowls of reheated couscous, and hello to vibrant plates of zesty pasta.
Method
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Meanwhile, dice the courgette into 1cm cubes, slice the asparagus into thick discs, and peel and chop the garlic. If you’re using frozen broad beans, remove the thin layer of shell around the beans.
- Once the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook according to packet instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large frying pan on a medium heat and add the olive oil, add the diced courgette and begin to colour, add the asparagus just after and then add the garlic, taking care not to burn the garlic. Turn down the heat and add the peas and broad beans, mascarpone, the zest of a whole lemon and the juice of half.
- Once the pasta is cooked, using a ladle add some of the pasta water to the vegetables and then drain the pasta. Tip the pasta into the vegetables and toss all together, check the seasoning, tear or chop the herbs and add to the pasta. Finish with plenty of pecorino.
Ingredients
- 1 courgette
- 4 asparagus spears
- 2 garlic cloves
- 350g dried pasta, Trofie, penne or similar
- 1tbsp olive oil
- 150g shelled peas
- 150g shelled broad beans
- 125g mascarpone
- 1 lemon
- Handful flat leaf parsley or mint
- 50g pecorino
Can I make pasta primavera in advance?
If you plan on serving warm, it's best to plate pasta primavera up as soon as possible. However, if you want to have it cold the next day for lunch, it'll still be just as delicious. Just leave the leftovers to cool to room temperature and then place in the fridge. Let it warm up a little before eating so it's not super cold—you won't get the full breadth of flavors if it is.
What is primavera sauce made of?
Primavera sauce is often a very light, vegetable-laden dish, which is why it's most popular to eat during the spring or summer months.
Often, primavera sauce is typified by its lemon, herby flavor too, making it a flavorsome and filling, but refreshing dish that works well as a light supper, lunch or dinner.
Typically, it is a light, more creamy white sauce, but it's not unheard of to make primavera sauce with tomatoes—although it is more unusual.
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