Spring vegetables and a silky, lemon butter pasta

Spring vegetables and a silky, lemon butter pasta

This creamy, lemony butter pasta sauce is a beautiful base to celebrate the bounty of spring. You can use any spring vegetables you like. Play around with what you love or what you can find at the markets. I love broad beans, but do keep in mind they need to be double podded. Blanch the vegetables quickly before cooking the pasta to ensure they stay bright and green.

Serves 2

  • Ingredients

    160g-200g long dried pasta 
    Handful of broad beans, podded
    ½ cup spring peas
    6-8 spears asparagus
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
    125ml (½ cup) dry white wine 
    3 zucchini flowers with small zucchinis attached, or 1 small zucchini
    70 g organic butter, cut into 5 or so cubes
    Zest of 1 lemon plus juice
    handful of basil leaves, to serve
    Parmigiano Reggiano or parmesan to serve, grated

  • Method

    Bring a large saucepan of water to a lively boil and season so it is as salty as the sea. Add the broad beans, asparagus, and peas. Blanch for 1 minute, then scoop
    out and plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process. Leave for a few minutes, then drain and dry on paper towel. If using broad beans, pod these again so you are left with the bright green beans. Keep your water on a rapid boil. Cook pasta until al dente.

    For the zucchini, thinly slice the little zucchinis and gently tear the flowers. If using a small zucchini, you can use a mandolin to get wafer thin slices. Set aside. These do not need to be cooked ahead.

    For the sauce, place a frypan with high sides over medium heat. Add olive oil and garlic and cook for 1 minute, then reduce the heat. Add the wine and cook for
    about 3 minutes or until reduced by half. Add the butter cubes, one at a time, whisking well and allowing each to melt before adding the next. Keep whisking as you add the cubes. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon zest. You should have a glossy, bright yellow sauce that has thickened slightly.

    Using tongs, transfer the cooked pasta straight into the lemon butter sauce along with a splash of pasta water to bring it together. Squeeze in the lemon juice and toss
    the pasta around the sauce for 20 to 30 seconds. Add a splash more pasta water if needed to loosen it. Turn off the heat. Toss in the blanched spring vegetables, zucchini slices, and a small handful of grated cheese. Toss again, then finish with most of the zucchini flowers and basil leaves, reserving some to garnish. Toss and serve into bowls.

    Serve with extra cheese, the remaining flowers and basil, and a drizzle of olive oil just to say I love you.