Roasted Asparagus Pasta with White Beans and Thyme

Name: Roasted Asparagus Pasta with White Beans and Thyme
Yield: serves 6
Ingredients: 1 bunch asparagus, peeled and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; Sea salt; 12 ounces penne or bowtie pasta; 1/2 cup diced red onion; 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic; Pinch of red pepper flakes; 1 cup cooked cannellini (see page 110) or navy beans; 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1 tablespoon lemon zest; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried; 1/4 cup Basil Lemon Drizzle (page 177; optional); 1/4 cup grated organic Parmesan cheese (optional)

December 9, 2011

This may come as a shock, but in Italy, pasta isn’t a main dish. In fact, the average Italian meal consists of small portions of several dishes, pasta among them. In addition, pasta is usually served with sauce only, never with veggies, which are served on their own, usually later in the meal, so this combination is more what I’d call Cal-Italian. The roasted asparagus is soft and sweet and blends deliciously with the creamy cannellini beans and a healthy but not overwhelming amount of pasta. Peeling the asparagus gets rid of the stringy, sometimes tough outer layer to expose the sweet flesh underneath. Buon appetito!

Recipe notes

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops

Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Frijoles Peruanos (Peruvian Refried Beans)

Mayocobas, or canary beans, are the quick-cooking pantry ingredient you should know about.

Gochujang Turkey Sweet Potatoes

Fully loaded, meal-prep friendly, and ready to be dressed up, down, or sideways.