Vegan White Sauce Pizza

Why save the vegan white sauce for pasta when you can make a vegan white pizza? This delicious pizza puts a twist on the traditional tomato sauce and cheese pizza and uses a creamy cashew-based alfredo-style sauce in its place. It takes only 35 minutes…

Why save the vegan white sauce for pasta when you can make a vegan white pizza? This delicious pizza puts a twist on the traditional tomato sauce and cheese pizza and uses a creamy cashew-based alfredo-style sauce in its place. It takes only 35 minutes to make, making it the perfect answer to a quick...

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Cheeseless Pizza

This easy cheeseless pizza recipe puts a fun and nutritious twist on traditional pizza and is a meal the whole family will love! In just 30 minutes or less, you will have a delicious veggie- and flavor-packed pizza without the dairy. It is the perfect …

This easy cheeseless pizza recipe puts a fun and nutritious twist on traditional pizza and is a meal the whole family will love! In just 30 minutes or less, you will have a delicious veggie- and flavor-packed pizza without the dairy. It is the perfect answer to a quick, family-friendly meal! For more fun, easy,...

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The post Cheeseless Pizza appeared first on My Pure Plants.

The Best Grilled Asparagus

For the best grilled asparagus, marinate them in a simple balsamic dressing, then grill until charred. An easy, healthy side dish! Grilled Asparagus This simple asparagus recipe will show you how to cook the best grilled asparagus. They’re so good you’…

For the best grilled asparagus, marinate them in a simple balsamic dressing, then grill until charred. An easy, healthy side dish! Grilled Asparagus This simple asparagus recipe will show you how to cook the best grilled asparagus. They’re so good you’ll have a hard time not eating the whole batch before they get to the

Green Goddess Tortellini Salad

Add this fresh tortellini salad recipe to your weekend menu, stat! It features cheesy spinach tortellini tossed in my all-time favorite green goddess dressing, layered with lemony…

The post Green Goddess Tortellini Salad appeared first on Cookie and Kate.

springtime pasta salad recipe

Add this fresh tortellini salad recipe to your weekend menu, stat! It features cheesy spinach tortellini tossed in my all-time favorite green goddess dressing, layered with lemony fresh greens and seasoned spring or summer vegetables.

This pasta dish manages to be light yet hearty at the same time, which is a real feat. It’s quick to make, but looks impressive. It’s versatile, too—you’ll see quite a few vegetable options below. Choose raw vegetables for the simplest preparation, as I did for these photos, or incorporate some quickly blanched vegetables, like asparagus, to expand your options.

green goddess tortellini salad ingredients

My healthy homemade green goddess dressing comes together quickly in the blender or food processor. I suggest doubling the ingredients so you can serve the extra as a veggie dip or refrigerate it for upcoming green salads. It’s really delightful to have on hand.

Choose spinach tortellini over basic cheese tortellini to incorporate even more greens. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try. This vegetarian pasta salad is a real crowd pleaser!

Continue to the recipe...

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Creamy Orzo with Asparagus and Peas

This delicious, creamy orzo pasta dish with asparagus and peas is fresh, bright, and lemony – the perfect spring dinner. Plus, it’s vegan and dairy-free. Creamy Orzo with Asparagus and Peas This quick orzo pasta is a great back-pocket weeknight recipe …

This delicious, creamy orzo pasta dish with asparagus and peas is fresh, bright, and lemony – the perfect spring dinner. Plus, it’s vegan and dairy-free. Creamy Orzo with Asparagus and Peas This quick orzo pasta is a great back-pocket weeknight recipe when you want to skip the meat and dairy. It has the same creamy

20 Asparagus Recipes for the Season

Here are all the best asparagus recipes for cooking this tender green vegetable! Try it roasted, in pasta, on salads,…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Here are all the best asparagus recipes for cooking this tender green vegetable! Try it roasted, in pasta, on salads, and more.

Asparagus recipes

Are you an asparagus fan? This tasty spring ingredient is both perfect as a simple side dish, or as the star of the show in a main. Add it to pasta with lemon and Parmesan and you’ve got a tasty dinner. Throw it into a quiche or on a tart, or alongside scrambled eggs for brunch. It’s even fantastic raw shaved into ribbons! Here are the top asparagus recipes from this website, as well as some from a few of our favorite recipe authors from around the web.

And now: our top asparagus recipes!

Fun facts about asparagus!

Want to know more about this super veggie? Here are some fun facts that will make you want to make all the asparagus recipes!

  • It’s a great source of fiber: 1 cup of cooked asparagus has 4 grams of fiber. (Source)
  • It’s also high in protein for a green vegetable: 1 cup also has 4 grams protein. (Source) That’s a similar level to broccoli and potatoes.
  • It can aid in eye and hair health, it has potential anti-aging properties and it’s promoted as an aphrodisiac! Who knew. (Source)
  • Why does asparagus make your pee smell? It’s caused by sulfurous compounds in the vegetable. (Source) If you’ve never smelled it, well: it’s actually genetic.
  • Want simple cooking methods? Here are the best ways to cook asparagus.
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Broiled asparagus

20 Asparagus Recipes for the Season


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4

Description

This baked asparagus is an easy side dish that’s a hit with everyone! The green stalks are roasted until tender, spritzed with lemon & topped with Parmesan.


Ingredients

  • 1 pound asparagus
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 lemon (Zest from half, plus slices from the other half)
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (omit for vegan)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Cut off the tough bottom ends of the asparagus. Add the asparagus stalks to a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil, and add the kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Add the zest of ½ lemon and mix with your hands. Thinly slice 4 lemon wheels from the lemon, then add them right on the tray. Sprinkle everything with Parmesan cheese.
  3. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until tender when pierced by a fork at the thickest part. The timing will depend on the thickness of the asparagus spears (ours in the photo were done at 12 minutes). Serve immediately.
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Easy Asparagus Recipes, Asparagus Recipes

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

23 Easy Asparagus Recipes

Check out these Easy and Healthy Asparagus Recipes featuring one of my favorite spring vegetables! From pasta recipes with steamed asparagus to baked asparagus appetizers and saucy stir fries, I’m sharing all my best asparagus recipes for you to …

Check out these Easy and Healthy Asparagus Recipes featuring one of my favorite spring vegetables! From pasta recipes with steamed asparagus to baked asparagus appetizers and saucy stir fries, I’m sharing all my best asparagus recipes for you to try. Healthy Asparagus Recipes for Any Season Spring is in the air, and fresh asparagus is

Parmesan Asparagus Fries

These crisp, golden, and delicious Parmesan asparagus fries are a tasty way to eat your veggies! Bake them in the oven or make them in the air fryer! Parmesan Asparagus Fries Someone suggested making asparagus fries to me, and I thought it was such a g…

These crisp, golden, and delicious Parmesan asparagus fries are a tasty way to eat your veggies! Bake them in the oven or make them in the air fryer! Parmesan Asparagus Fries Someone suggested making asparagus fries to me, and I thought it was such a great idea. To make the crumbs stick better, I dredged

Pasta Primavera

This pasta primavera recipe is bursting with fresh veggies and a creamy Parmesan sauce! It’s a veggie-packed dinner that pleases…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This pasta primavera recipe is bursting with fresh veggies and a creamy Parmesan sauce! It’s a veggie-packed dinner that pleases everyone.

Pasta Primavera

Looking for a vegetarian pasta to impress? Try Pasta Primavera, the Italian-sounding American dish from the 1970’s that’s here to liven up your mealtimes! There are many ways to make a primavera, so here’s our spin. Tender pasta is mixed with spring vegetables like asparagus, broccolini, peas and carrots, then tossed with a creamy, luxurious Parmesan sauce. You won’t want the bowl to end!

The story behind pasta primavera

Pasta Primavera is an American pasta dish featuring fresh vegetables invented in the 1970’s. The dish was created by a New York chef named Sirio Maccioni at the home of an Italian businessman in Nova Scotia of all places. The dish mixed butter, cream, cheese, pasta and fresh vegetables, and went on to become popular all over the world. While it doesn’t sound like a revolutionary combination to our modern ears, it was the first of its kind.

Pasta Primavera

What’s in this pasta primavera recipe?

Since then, Pasta Primavera has popped up on restaurant menus across the globe, popularly at Italian American chains like Olive Garden. There’s really no “correct” way to make this dish: no specifications on the exact sauce or the type of vegetables. Primavera means spring in Italian, so often you’ll see it with spring vegetables like asparagus and carrot. But just as many spins use summer vegetables like zucchini and tomatoes: so there’s a lot of variation!

In our opinion, a good Pasta Primavera should feature spring vegetables just like the title indicates, so that’s what we’ve used here. The veggies are accessorized with a creamy Parmesan sauce that makes everything taste irresistible. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Pasta: any shape! we like tortelli (shown), but any short or long shape works
  • Olive oil
  • Baby bella mushrooms
  • Asparagus
  • Leek: leek is a uniquely tasty spring vegetable; substitute shallot if you can’t find it
  • Broccolini: we love the elegant shape of broccolini here! You can substitute broccoli
  • Peas
  • Carrot
  • For the sauce: butter, garlic, flour, milk and Parmesan cheese

The basic idea? Cook the pasta, saute the veggies, make a quick cream sauce and mix it all together. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve warm.

Tips for cooking pasta to al dente

When it comes to any pasta dish, here’s the key: cook the pasta to the perfect al dente. Al dente means “to the bite” in Italian: pasta that’s tender with a firm center. Overcooked pasta turns out rubbery and unappetizing. Interestingly, it also has less nutrients and makes you less full. Here are some tips on how to cook pasta to al dente:

  • Set your timer a few minutes before the package instructions indicate. The timing on many pasta packages makes for overcooked pasta. Start taste testing the pasta a few minutes before the package says to.
  • Taste test and look for small white fleck at the core. You want to catch it right when there’s a small white fleck at the core, or just when it disappears.
Pasta Primavera

Making the pasta primavera sauce

A few tips on the pasta primavera sauce: the sauce is a quick Parmesan sauce made with a roux. A “roux” is flour and butter cooked together (usually equal parts) that’s sed to thicken sauces. The cooking does go quickly, so you’ll want to understand the basic idea before you start.

  • Measure out the ingredients first, and don’t leave the stove. The cooking process goes so fast, you’ll want to have everything measured in advance.
  • Melt butter and saute the grated garlic 30 seconds. Be careful not to overcook: you don’t want it to brown!
  • Add flour and whisk constantly. Whisk constantly and cook just until it’s a golden color; be careful not to overcook.
  • Whisk in the milk gradually. Add a splash of milk and whisk constantly, then keep adding a few splashes at a time until the sauce is smooth. Simmer for several minutes, and the roux will thicken the sauce! It may feel like it won’t thicken, but just wait: it will come together in about 5 minutes.

Serving pasta primavera

This pasta primavera recipe takes a little over 30 minutes to make, but it’s pretty hands on: you don’t have a lot of waiting time to prep other items. So to make it into a meal, you’ll want some quick and simple sides. You can also add cooked protein to make the dish more filling. Here are a few ideas:

Pasta Primavera

More pasta recipes

Love pasta at mealtime? Here are a few that will make dinnertime delicious:

This pasta primavera recipe is…

Vegetarian. For vegan and plant-based, substitute 1 ½ cups Vegan Alfredo Sauce for the sauce ingredients. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.

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Pasta Primavera

Pasta Primavera


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4

Description

This pasta primavera recipe is bursting with fresh veggies and a creamy Parmesan sauce! It’s a veggie-packed dinner that pleases everyone.


Ingredients

  • 8 ounces pasta (tortelli is shown)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 bunch (1 pound) asparagus, tough ends removed, sliced in half and cut into small pieces
  • 1 leek, thinly sliced into half moons and washed (or 1 large shallot, thinly sliced)
  • 1 bunch broccolini (or 1 crown broccoli), cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed under warm water
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1 ½ tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 small garlic cloves, grated
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups 2% milk
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more to garnish

Instructions

  1. Bring a salted pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente (taste testing a minute or two before the package instructions indicate). Drain and toss the pasta with a bit of olive oil.
  2. Meanwhile, prep the vegetables as noted above. In a dutch oven or large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Cook mushrooms for 4 minutes, until starting to brown. Add asparagus, leeks, broccolini, carrots and ½ teaspoon kosher salt and cook additional 4 to 5 minutes until asparagus is tender and bright green. Add peas and continue cooking until peas are bright green, about 1 minute.
  3. In a small or medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the grated garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned. Add the flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute to 90 seconds, until bubbly and golden. Add a splash of milk and whisk it in: the sauce will instantly turn chunky. Constantly whisking, continue to add splashes of milk and whisk them in until the entire quantity is incorporated and the sauce is smooth. Reduce the heat and whisk until the sauce thickens and no longer tastes like raw flour, about 5 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon kosher salt and the Parmesan cheese.
  4. Drain the pasta, then add it to the skillet with the veggies and stir in the sauce. Taste and add the additional ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Serve warm, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese. Leftovers store well refrigerated.
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Pasta
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Pasta primavera, pasta primavera recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Vegan Pasta Primavera with Roasted Veggies

What’s that? You’re craving pasta but also want some veggies and protein? Well, you’ve made it to the right recipe. This easy Vegan Pasta Primavera has all the comforting goodness you love about pasta, plus plenty of versatile veggies and protein-packe…

Vegan Pasta Primavera with Roasted Veggies

What’s that? You’re craving pasta but also want some veggies and protein? Well, you’ve made it to the right recipe. This easy Vegan Pasta Primavera has all the comforting goodness you love about pasta, plus plenty of versatile veggies and protein-packed chickpeas! 

It’s simple, savory, optionally gluten-free, and a delicious way to use up any veggies you have lingering around (who, us?). With just 10 ingredients required, we can’t wait for you to give it a try.

Vegan Pasta Primavera with Roasted Veggies from Minimalist Baker →