Creamy Pasta Primavera

Pasta primavera is the quintessential springtime dish, and for good reason! It's hard to go wrong with fresh veggies and cheesy pasta.

By Ree Drummond   Published: Apr 15, 2021

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. salted butter
• 1 large shallot or 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 c. white wine
• 1 1/2 c. half-and-half
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 1 c. freshly grated pecorino, plus more for garnish
• Kosher salt, to taste
• 12 oz. cavatappi, penne or other short pasta
• 2 bunches asparagus (about 2 pounds), ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 4 oz. sugar snap peas, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 c. fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 c. fresh mint, chopped

Directions

1. Step 1
   Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until softened and aromatic, about 30 seconds. Pour in the wine and scrape up any browned bits from the pan. When the wine has reduced by a little less than half, stir in the half-and-half and simmer until thickened slightly, about 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and stir to combine. Add the pecorino and stir until bubbly and slightly thick.
2. Step 2
   Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. During the last minute of cooking, add the asparagus and snap peas to the pot.
3. Step 3
   Drain the pasta and vegetables and add to the sauce. Add the parsley and mint and toss to combine. Serve with extra cheese for garnish.