Pasta Primavera

(from amylicious’s recipe box)

The test kitchen prefers the hearty strands of egg-enriched fettuccine usually sold in 12-ounce boxes. We found that you need to salt the water used to cook the pasta and vegetables quite heavily to make sure they emerge nicely seasoned.

Source: Cook's Illustrated May 2007 (from RecipeThing user jerseyjenny) (from RecipeThing user APechaitis)

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves 4 people

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion , chopped fine
  • 8 ounces white mushrooms , quartered
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes , drained
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 12 ounces egg-enriched dried fettuccine (see note above)
  • 1 pound asparagus , tough ends discarded, spears cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium zucchini , cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese , plus extra for serving
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

Directions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot for cooking pasta. Meanwhile, melt butter in large skillet over medium heat until foaming. Add onion, mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook until soft and browned, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and cream, increase heat to high, bring to boil, and remove pan from heat.

  2. As sauce cooks, add 2 tablespoons salt and pasta to boiling water and cook until just beginning to soften, about 6 minutes. Add asparagus to pot and cook for 1 minute. Add zucchini and cook for 2 minutes. Add peas and cook until pasta is al dente, about 1 minute.

  3. Drain pasta and vegetables and return to pot. Toss in cream sauce, cheese, lemon juice, and basil and season with salt and pepper. Serve, passing extra cheese at table.

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