mini penne with spicy pesto and asparagus

Pasta shapes are quite the controversial topic in our family.

We’ve been known to get into full fledged arguments over what kind of pasta goes with what kind of sauce. Medium shells are a hands-down favorite, ziti is not. In fact, I had a cousin walk out on a meat sauce dinner because we were having penne instead of spaghetti (she has a floor to ceiling armoire dedicated to pasta and canned tomatoes, ok? Not even joking). Then of course, there is the brand of pasta…

Like I said, it is very controversial.

My parents also have a dedicated space for pasta, and I recently raided their stash in search of a box of mini penne. Love mini penne. Also in hand, was a jar of my dad’s famous pesto. His sauce is perfectly green, with a hint of parsley and it’s not too garlicky. He also uses walnuts instead of pignoli.

Although this is a very simple dish, there are 2 key elements that make it great:

1.) Cutting the asparagus exactly the same size as the pasta. I’ve noticed that when I mix pasta with other sized ingredients, I end up with either a forkful of just pasta, or a forkful of the other stuff. What I want, is a nice medley of both. In this recipe, the asparagus is tailored to size so that you can eat with ease. It really makes a difference. I like mini penne with pesto because of the little lines or ridges in them, which is great for catching the sauce.

2.) Having the right ratio of pasta to asparagus. Mine is 3/4 lb : 1 lb. Usually, I will make the full 1 lb. box to feed 4 people, but it’s too much pasta and not enough vegetable. So, I remove some and save it for soup. This way, you get both pasta and asparagus in every bite. Success!

It’s a science, really…

My dad’s pesto needs no adornment other than a sprinkle of cheese and possibly a chilled glass of wine to serve. The only exception this time was a dash of crushed red chili flakes for a spicy kick. You can do this with any pesto sauce- mine, yours, or store-bought.

So tell me, are you as crazy as we are about pasta shapes?!

Tips:

• If you can’t find mini penne, regular penne will work or any other short cut pasta.
• Save about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water to help loosen your sauce. Stir well, about 1-2 minutes for a silky texture. I do this for all of my pasta sauces.
• Only cook the asparagus until crisp-tender, about 2-3 minutes. Any longer and it will lose its bright green color as it will continue to cook once removed from the pan.

mini penne with spicy pesto + asparagus

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• Author: The Clever Carrot
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Yield: 4 1x

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Ingredients

• 3/4 lb. mini penne
• 1 lb. bunch fresh asparagus
• 1 c. basil pesto, homemade or store-bought
• 1/4- 1/2 tsp. crushed red chili flakes
• olive oil
• salt + pepper
• parmesan or pecorino cheese to taste

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Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Save about 1 cup of the starchy cooking liquid to loosen your pesto sauce. Drain and set aside until ready to use.
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare your asparagus. Trim off the dry, woody ends and discard. On an angle, cut the asparagus to exactly the same size of your mini penne or other pasta (if using).
3. In a large saute pan, warm a 2 tsp. of olive oil over moderate heat. Add the asparagus and season with salt and pepper. Saute until crisp-tender, about 2- 3 minutes. Any longer and it will lose its bright green color as it will continue to cook once removed from the pan. Transfer to a large serving bowl.
4. When the pasta is ready, add to the bowl. Dollop the pesto over the top and stir well to combine. Add a little bit of the reserved pasta water if the pesto sauce is to thick. Stir well for a smooth, silky texture.
5. Add the crushed red chili flakes and sprinkle with cheese, to taste.
6. Serve warm with a drizzle of olive oil over the top, if desired.

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