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Lemony Pasta with Spring Vegetables and Greens

Lemony Pasta with Spring Vegetables and Greens

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces farro spaghetti, lemon spaghetti or thin spaghetti

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 4 spring onions or 2 leeks, both whites and light greens, very thinly sliced on bias or chopped

  • 1 bulb spring garlic or 2 large cloves, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 pound thin asparagus, thinly sliced on bias

  • 2 spring fennel or 1 small bulb, quartered and cored and thinly sliced

  • Salt and pepper

  • 1 cup fresh peas or fresh shelled fava beans

  • 1 escarole, chopped or 2 to 3 heads gem Romaine lettuce

  • 1 lemon

  • EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling

  • A handful Pecorino cheese, to serve

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add salt and pasta, and cook to al dente.  

While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat with olive oil, 2 turns of pan. Add onions or leeks, garlic, asparagus and fennel, and sauté 3 minutes. Add peas or shelled fava to the vegetables and wilt in greens. Add lemon zest and juice then reduce heat to lowest setting.  

Reserve 1/2 mug of starchy pasta water then drain the pasta. Add pasta to skillet with sauce and vegetables and toss with reserved cooking water, a drizzle of EVOO and the Pecorino. Adjust seasoning and serve.