A refreshing pasta where lemon and asparagus flavours shine. You can work on the asparagus and sauce while the pasta is cooking. You might be done in less than 30 minutes that way.
¼cupfresh lemon juiceZest the lemon before juicing
Topping
4TbspsItalian parsleyminced
zest of 1 lemon
4Tbspspanko bread crumbstoasted
sprinkle of sea salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.
Put the pasta water on the stove top and bring to a boil. Cook according to manufacturer's instructions.
While water is coming to a boil, spray an oven proof dish big enough to hold the asparagus spears in a single layer.
Wash the asparagus thoroughly. Bend the bottom of the stem of the asparagus- it will snap off where the stalk goes from tender to woody. Discard the tough bottoms.
Wrap each asparagus spear in a long thin strips of prosciutto leaving a ½ inch or so of the tip exposed.
Position spears in the oven proof pan in a single layer and roast about 15 minutes.
Add the panko crumbs in an oven proof dish to the oven at the same time. Remove panko crumbs as soon as they are brown. Check them after 4 or 5 minutes. Set crumbs aside when they are browned.
Zest and juice the fresh lemon(s).
Combine the lemon zest and the minced parsley and set aside.
Heat the oil in a sacuepan and sauté garlic one minute over medium/low heat. Add the sour cream and asiago and heat til cheese is melted. Add the lemoncello and fresh lemon juice and heat through. Keep warm til ready to use.
When aspargus is done cut each spear into 1 ½" chunks. Reserve the tips to garnish the dish.
When pasta is cooked, drain it and then toss it with the warm sauce and asparagus chunks.
Divide evenly among 4 dishes. Sprinkle lemon zest and parsely mix over each dish. Garnish each dish with panko crumbs and 3 asparagus tips and a pinch of sea salt. Serve with a fresh lemon wedge.