Lemon Asparagus Pasta Salad (Printable)
Bright pasta with tender asparagus, zesty lemon, and fresh herbs. Perfect for warm weather gatherings.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pasta & Vegetables
01 - 8 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or farfalle)
02 - 10 oz fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
→ Dressing
05 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
06 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
08 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
09 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
→ Fresh & Finishing
12 - 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
13 - 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. About 2 minutes before the pasta is done, add the asparagus to the boiling water with the pasta. Drain pasta and asparagus together and rinse briefly under cold water to stop the cooking.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
03 - Add drained pasta and asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and red onion to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently to coat.
04 - Stir in fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve at room temperature or chilled, garnished with grated parmesan if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The bright lemon dressing actually gets better as it sits, so this is one of those rare dishes that loves being made ahead
- Cooking the asparagus right in the pasta water saves time and infuses every bite with grassy spring flavor
02 -
- Rinsing the pasta under cold water stops the cooking process but washes away starch, so do not be afraid of a little residual warmth in your salad
- The asparagus only needs 2 minutes in boiling water to stay bright green and tender crisp
03 -
- Use the water you cooked the pasta in to thin the dressing if it feels too thick
- Chill your serving bowl for 10 minutes to keep the pasta salad fresh longer on warm days