Roasted Asparagus Lemon Butter Pasta Salad
A delightful pasta salad combining fresh asparagus, zesty lemon, and savory sun dried tomatoes, perfect for lunch or gatherings.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 large bunch fresh asparagus, about 14-16 spears
- 1 whole lemon, zested and juiced
- 450 grams pasta, cooked, drained, and cooled
- 0.5 cup green onions, sliced
- 0.5 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes, packed in oil
- 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons oil, from the jar of sun dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds for garnish, optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Wash and chop the asparagus into one-inch pieces. Toss them with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Spread the asparagus evenly on a baking sheet. Dot with butter.
- Roast in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in salted water. Once cooked, cool the pasta completely by running it under cold water.
Mixing
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta and asparagus.
- Add sun dried tomatoes, the oil from the sun dried tomatoes, green onions, parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, and any leftover oil or butter mixture from the baking sheet.
- Use a rubber spatula to scrape the pan clean and toss all the ingredients together.
- Season with more salt and pepper as needed.
Serving
- Pour the pasta salad into a large serving bowl. Garnish with sesame seeds, parsley, and additional parmesan if desired.
- Serve and enjoy! Pasta can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Notes
To save time, prepare the pasta and asparagus ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until you mix everything together. Feel free to substitute vegetables based on what you have on hand, such as cherry tomatoes or bell peppers. For a vegetarian version, ensure the parmesan cheese is vegetarian-friendly.