Pasta with Asparagus, Goat Cheese, and Lemon

Asparagus, goat cheese, and lemon combine to make this lovely and simple spaghetti dish that I often make in the summer. It is super easy and ready in about 15 minutes, so it's a great recipe for dinner midweek or a fast weekend lunch.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 688 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti
• ½ lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste (Optional)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, or more to taste
• ½ pound asparagus, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 ounces chevre (soft goat cheese), crumbled

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, for 9 minutes. Add asparagus to the pot. Continue cooking until spaghetti is tender yet firm to the bite, about 3 minutes. Drain spaghetti and asparagus, reserving some cooking water.

Step 2

Combine goat cheese, olive oil, basil, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Add hot spaghetti, asparagus, and 2 tablespoons of cooking water; mix well. Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Serve with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.