No-Mayo, No-Problem: Spring Asparagus Pasta Salad That Screams Freshness!

by theFoodOlic

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  1. theFoodOlic

    * 14 oz green asparagus
    * 14 oz pasta of your choice, fusilli, penne, farfalle, etc.
    * 14 oz cherry tomatoes, about 30
    * 10 oz small mozzarella ball,s about 30 balls
    * ½ cup olive oil, extra virgin
    * 1 garlic clove, mashed or minced
    * 1 organic lemon, the zest and half its juice
    * 1 handful fresh basil **optional*
    * salt and pepper

    # Instructions 

    * Cook the asparagus in a large pot of salted, boiling water until it is al dente, or cooked but still slightly firm, which takes about 5 minutes.
    * Pass through a strainer and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and reserve.
    * In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook your preferred type of pasta following the instructions.
    * Again, pass the pasta through a strainer when ready and rinse under cold water to get bouncy pasta.
    * Cut the cherry tomatoes in half, then add mashed garlic, the juice of half a lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
    * Add all the ingredients except the fresh basil leaves to a big bowl, and mix until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
    * Before serving, add the fresh basil leaves and a last fresh drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and mix.

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