Recipe from Zarina, November 2005 Supper Club.
Makes 10 cups; Total Time: 40 minutes
Toast: 1/3 cup pistachio nuts
Cook: 1 lb. thin asparagus, cut into thirds
Saute in: 1/4 cup unsalted butter; Remove and discard: 1 large clove garlic, peeled and halved lengthwise
Add:
- cooked asparagus
- 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
Pour in, simmer and season:
- 1 cup half and half
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1-1/2 teaspoon sea or kosher salt
Prepare; Combine and add:
- 1 lb dry penne pasta
- Asparagus sauce
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Garnish with toasted chopped pistachio nuts.
Preheat oven to 350. Toast the nuts on a baking sheet for 5-7 minutes; cool, chop and set aside. Cook the asparagus in a stockpot in boiling salted water, uncovered, over medium-high heat until tender, about 3 minutes. Remove asparagus, saving the water so the pasta can be prepared in the same pot. Saute garlic in butter in a saute pan over medium heat, pressing the garlic with a wooden spoon to release its flavor. When the edges start to brown, remove and discard garlic. Add the asparagus and pepper. Increase heat to high and pour in the wine, stirring for about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium. Pour the half and half and cream over asparagus mixture and simmer about 2 minutes. Season with salt; keep warm while boiling the pasta. Prepare penne (in asparagus water) according to package directions; drain and return to the pot. Combine asparagus sauce with pasta, stirring over low heat. Add cheese, stirring until it melts; transfer to a platter. Garnish with pistachio nuts and serve immediately.
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