This classic pasta dish is made with a colorful array of sautéed vegetables in a light Parmesan lemon sauce. Primavera, actually means "springtime" in Italian and this is a great pasta recipe that features bright vegetables found in the spring and early summer. This quick and easy dinner may have a long ingredient list, but it can still be served up in about 30 minutes.
Course:
Entrées
Cuisine:
Italian
Keyword:
Vegetarian, Pasta, One Pot Meal, Quick and Easy
Servings: 6
Calories: 488 kcal
-
1
pound
penne pasta
-
2
cups
broccoli florets
-
olive oil
-
½
red onion
sliced
-
2
carrots
sliced
-
½
red bell pepper
diced
-
½
yellow bell pepper
diced
-
½
zucchini
sliced
-
5
stalks asparagus
cut into 1-inch pieces
-
¼ to ½
teaspoon
Italian seasoning
-
salt and freshly ground black pepper
-
1
tablespoon
unsalted butter
-
½
clove
garlic
minced
-
½
cup
white wine
-
1
cup
chicken or vegetable stock
-
juice of ½ lemon
-
½
cup
heavy cream
-
½
cup
grated Parmesan cheese
-
zest of 1 lemon
-
2
tablespoons
chopped fresh parsley
-
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, setting a timer. When you have 2 minutes of cooking time left, scoop out and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drop the broccoli florets into the water with the pasta. Drain the pasta and broccoli together and set them aside. (Do not rinse.)
-
Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle a little olive oil into the pan and sauté the red onion and carrots for a few minutes, until they start to soften. Add the red and yellow peppers, sauté for a few minutes and then add the zucchini and asparagus. Add the Italian seasoning and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Continue to sauté until the vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set them aside.
-
Add the butter and garlic to the now empty pan and sauté for 1 minute. Add the white wine and bring to a simmer. Add the stock and lemon juice. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until liquid has reduced a little. Stir in the heavy cream and simmer for a few more minutes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and lemon zest and season with freshly ground black pepper.
-
Return the vegetables to the pan along with the cooked pasta and broccoli. Gently toss over medium heat just to heat everything through. If needed, add some of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Stir in the fresh parsley and serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts
Pasta Primavera
Amount Per Serving
Calories 488
Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Cholesterol 41mg14%
Sodium 225mg9%
Potassium 543mg16%
Carbohydrates 67g22%
Fiber 5g20%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 4584IU92%
Vitamin C 65mg79%
Calcium 154mg15%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.