If There's One New Recipe You Try This Month, Make It This Easy Pasta Primavera
A pasta dish that's perfect for spring
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
If you’re like me, pasta is on the dinner rotation at least one night a week. It’s cheap, filling, quick to make, can accommodate almost anyone’s tastes or preferences, and the list goes on. The only downside to pasta is that it’s very easy to get into a recipe rut, and I happened to be in one. Which is why I was excited to see the 30-minute Skillet Pasta Primavera recipe in our April issue.
What’s In Skillet Pasta Primavera?
Made with bow tie pasta (the most underused shape, in my opinion), plus leeks, asparagus, green peas, and cherry tomatoes, it’s just the kind of light, vegetable-filled dish I crave in the springtime. It doesn’t have a rich sauce, but it’s still super flavorful thanks to garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, basil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
Related: Our Easiest (And Fastest) One-Dish Pasta Recipes
What’s The Sauce In Skillet Pasta Primavera?
There isn’t one. I can hear you now. “No sauce? But isn’t it dry?” Not at all! The trick is to reserve some of the salty, starchy pasta cooking water when you drain the cooked noodles. When combined with the olive oil, pasta, and vegetables in the skillet, it creates a silky glaze that coats all of the ingredients and keeps them from sticking together. I love sauce, but this is much lighter, which lets all of the vegetables shine.
Related: How To Salt Pasta Water The Right Way
Can I Customize Skillet Pasta Primavera?
I made the recipe as instructed, but you could easily change up some or all the vegetables depending on what you like. No leeks? Try a sweet onion. Love peas? Double up on the amount and swap out the tomatoes or asparagus. You can also use a different pasta shape if you prefer—linguine, penne, or orecchiette would all work well. Just don’t forget to reserve some pasta water, because that’s the magic ingredient that brings the whole dish together.
Related: Easy Spring Pasta Dishes For Busy Weeknights
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