Creamy pasta primavera with fresh veggies is a classic!
Its very name evokes the 1980s, nouveau cuisine, and bad food cliches.
Our version is a pared down rendition of this classic, simplified and lightened up for more modern tastes.
Michelle Becker
Why resurrect pasta primavera at all?
Because despite all the jokes, it was and is a good dish.
I ate it a lot.
Michelle Becker
It has a lovely mouthfeel and really does make the cream and cheese feel lighter when you eat it.
Angel hair, also called capellini, is readily available in most supermarkets.
Can you use regular old spaghetti?
Michelle Becker
Thats what they used at Le Cirque, after all.
Store for Later
Pasta primavera should stay freshrefrigerated in an airtight containerfor several days.
To reheat it, warm it in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
Michelle Becker
Alternatively, it’s possible for you to reheat it in the microwave.
Stir in a bit more water to loosen the sauce, if necessary.
More Classic Pasta Recipes to Try!
Michelle Becker
It should taste like the sea.
Fill a large bowl with ice water.
Boil the broccoli for 1 minute.
Michelle Becker
Add the asparagus and boil another minute.
Add the snow peas and boil for 30 more seconds.
Remove all the vegetables and plunge them into the ice water.
Michelle Becker
Once theyre cool, drain in a colander.
In a large saute pan, heat the butter over medium-high heat.
When the butter is hot, add the garlic and zucchini and saute 1 minute.
Michelle Becker
Add the diced tomatoes and saute another 2 minutes, stirring often.
Pour in the chicken or vegetable stock and turn the heat to high to bring it to a boil.
Add the cream and toss in all the vegetables you boiled, plus the peas.
Turn the heat down until the cream-chicken broth mixture is just simmering, not boiling.
Add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
As soon as the pasta is done, transfer it with tongs into the sauce and stir to combine.
Add the basil now, and taste for salt.
Add salt if needed.
Grind some black pepper over everything and serve immediately.
You will want a dry white wine with this, ideally adry white.
