Creamy, lemony, therapeutic pasta, fresh asparagus, and toasted almonds. Spring is finally here…I think. At least that’s what I’m hoping because I think we’re all about to go mental if the rain doesn’t agree to a truce.
Creamy lemon casarecce pasta with asparagus and toasted almonds has been a regular in my kitchen lately. Mostly because asparagus is in season and partly because I decided to wage a creamy lemon sauce battle. I knew how I wanted the creamy lemon sauce to taste but each time I made it something wasn’t quite right. The slightly obsessive compulsive side that shows its face when I’m in the kitchen cooking had to get it right, even if that meant the hubs and kidlets ended up eating the same thing several times in one week, but slightly variated of course.
Some of my best thinking happens in the kitchen. And sometimes no thinking at all, which is needed as well. The kitchen is where my mind finds space.
To just be.
Unless the kidlets are screaming at each other in the next room…or screaming at me because they just found out they’re going to be eating asparagus for the fifth day in a row. Or maybe it was the crazy lemon cream sauce battle they were sick of. The first rendition of the creamy lemon sauce was actually pretty bad…okay, really bad. I may have scarred them for life with that first rendition. The second rendition wasn’t a real prize winner either so that probably sealed the deal. But baby, the third time is the charm. And your kids will like it (smiling and nodding my head up and down).
And anyone else you invite to the table for that matter.
Cuz the SAUCE you guys…so perfectly creamy from the marriage of goat cheese and cream and then lightened and brightened with the zest and juice of a lemon. I had a moment of pure Italian bliss (I’m not Italian) and yelled “E VOILÀ!!! Ehhh..maybe that’s French but the Italians say it too. Anyways, it was my turn to scream. The kids were confused. Especially since mommy was speaking in another language. That kinda of thing occasionally happens when you’ve lived in another country and you get easily excited about food wins. Anyways, I promptly poured that sauce over some casarrece pasta and topped it off with sautéed asparagus, garlic, shallots, and toasted almonds. It was beautiful.
And besides the fact that this creamy lemon casarrece with asparagus and toasted almonds is another awesome dinner in your back pocket for any occasion (hint hint..Mother’s Day) it comes together in 30 minutes. Gotta love those 30 minute meals that look and taste oh so fancy pants but we never have to break a sweat cooking it. Besides, sweaty food is kinda gross.
So yeaaahh…awkwardly transitioning…(sorry for the sweaty food comment)
I hope you guys love this dish with all the passion of an Italian who’s not really Italian. If you make it, take a quick snapshot of it. Seriously, I really REALLY do want to see it. Send it to me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (tag it #passmesometasty), Instagram Story, email, snail mail, plastered on a billboard in Portland. You get what I’m saying. I wanna see the food that you’re cooking up from this lil’ blog. It makes me happy. I hope the food here makes you happy too. ❤
Creamy Lemon Casarecce with Asparagus & Toasted Almonds
Prep Time: 10- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: Serves 4-6
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Gluten free casarrece pasta tossed in a creamy, lemony goat cheese sauce with fresh asparagus & toasted almonds. An easy 30-minute gluten free meal perfect for family & guests.
Ingredients
- 12 oz. gluten free casarecce pasta
- 4 Tbs unsalted butter, divided
- 1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 oz. goat cheese, plain or herbed, plus more for topping
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed, washed, and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3/4 cup finely chopped shallot
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Bring 3 quarts of water to a rolling boil for the pasta.
- While waiting for the pasta water to begin boiling, melt 2 Tbs unsalted butter over medium heat in a medium-sized saucepan. Once the butter is melted add the gf flour and begin whisking to combine. Once combined slowly add the broth in a steady stream while whisking constantly. Continue whisking until the mixture becomes smooth. Once smooth add the whipping cream and goat cheese and mix to combine until the goat cheese has completely melted and the sauce is smooth once again. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken on low heat.
- If the pasta water has reached a boil begin cooking pasta according to package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking and the sauce is simmering, place remaining 2 Tbs butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus and shallots and cook for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Returning to the sauce, add the lemon zest and lemon juice to the sauce stirring to combine.
- Once the pasta is cooked and drained, immediately add the asparagus mixture, toasted almonds, and the lemony cream sauce to the pasta, tossing to combine. (Note: This recipe makes 3 cups of the lemony cream sauce which you may or may not want to use all of. So just add sauce to your pasta dish as desired and if you end up with extra you can store it in the refrigerator to be used later for another plate of pasta!)
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra goat cheese and black pepper, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Random Note: The spelling of this pasta is up for debate. Even between Italian pasta companies one will spell it “casarecce” while the other spells it “caserecce.” I dunno why. It seems that more frequently in the United States it’s spelled with an “a” and since that’s where I live, that’s how I spelled it. Either way, when your mouth is full of a bite of this creamy lemon pasta the importance of its spelling will just fade away.
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What a fantastic idea! I am totally making this tonight! I really needed some inspiration for back to school nights, and this seems perfect! Thanks!!!
I hope you enjoy it Viktoria! And how did back-to-school creep up on us so fast!?
Yum, yum, YUM!!! I’d gladly eat that 5 days in a row! We have asparagus coming out of our ears and I’m slowly trying to cook it out of the fridge to make room for some other things. I absolutely love pairing it with lemon flavors and a goat cheese sauce over pasta with it sounds amazing! You’ve got a winner here, Shannon 🙂
Thank you Lindsay! ❤