This pasta with asparagus and sun dried tomatoes is a quick and easy spring pasta dish featuring sautéed asparagus and finely minced sun dried tomatoes, tossed with a flavorful lemon basil dressing.
With asparagus season winding down, I thought I’d share one more asparagus recipe. This is a quick and easy recipe that comes together in under 30 minutes. Sautéed asparagus is tossed with pasta, minced sun dried tomatoes, a dusting of parmesan cheese and a lemony basil dressing.
Asparagus comes in many sizes – from thick to thin. I used a thick asparagus in this recipe. If you are using a thinner stalk, you’ll need to cook it for less time.
I always thought that a thick stalk of asparagus meant that it had grown for a longer time than the thin kind. It turns out it’s the age of the asparagus crown – the root bed of the asparagus plant. The older the crown, the bigger and thicker the stalks of asparagus.
I have a love hate relationship with sun dried tomatoes. I love its robust taste, but I hate how chewy it can be. Then I realized I just needed to finely mince the sun dried tomatoes and that eliminates the chewy problem.
Sun dried tomatoes come in two forms – oil packed or dried. I find the oil packed ones quicker and easier to work with so that’s what I used in this recipe.
A couple of notes:
- Like all fast pasta recipes, the key is to do all the prep work first. So while the water is coming to a boil, chop, mince and grate all the ingredients and have them all prepped and ready to go.
- I used a thick asparagus stalk. If you use the thin kind you will need to cook the asparagus for a shorter amount of time. You want the asparagus to be tender but not overcooked.
Pasta with Asparagus and Sun Dried Tomatoes
Pasta with asparagus and sun dried tomatoes. A quick and easy spring pasta recipe featuring asparagus and sun dried tomatoes with a lemon basil dressing.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 2 to 4
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked pasta – about half a box of pasta – I used rigatoni
- 1 veggie bouillon cube
- 1 bunch of asparagus – about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds – tough ends snapped off – cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic – minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 to 3 tbs sun dried tomatoes – I used the kind that was packed in oil – minced
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup of finely grated parmesan cheese
Dressing
- 1/2 large lemon – about 1 1/2 to 2 tbs of lemon juice
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1 small garlic clove – put through a press or finely minced
- 1 to 2 tbs finely minced fresh basil
- 5 twists of pepper from a pepper mill
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prep all your ingredients as you bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Snap off the tough ends of asparagus and discard. Cut the asparagus into bite sized pieces. Set aside.
- Finely mince sun dried tomatoes and set aside.
- Grate parmesan cheese and set aside.
- Mince garlic and set aside.
- Mince basil and set aside.
- Make dressing by whisking together lemon juice, 2 tbs olive oil, 1 clove of minced garlic, minced basil, black pepper and salt. Set aside.
- Once the water is boiling, add pasta and bouillon cube. Cook according to package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, add 1 tbs olive oil to a large sauté pan over high heat. Add cut up asparagus, two cloves of minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the sauté pan. Stir for one minute over high heat, turn down heat to medium low, cover sauté pan with lid and cook asparagus for 4 minutes – stirring occasionally.
- When the pasta is ready, drain and add to the asparagus. Add minced sun dried tomatoes and lemon basil dressing and stir until combined. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and gently toss before serving.
Hardly ever use minced sun dried tomatoes, turns out they are great on rotelle pasta, get into all the swirly bits,
Lovely photo of final dish.
★★★★★
I love this dish – it’s the perfect time to make it since asparagus is in the market right now for a super low price. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for leaving a comment and rating!
Love a fresh summery pasta dish that can be whipped up quickly. Asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes together sounds like a hit!
Thanks so much, Karen!
Hi Geraldine,
I love how the herbs and oils dominate this wonderful dish, turning it into a special. yet so simple meal. Thank you so much for sharing. I am a big fan of sun-dried tomatoes, too, so I will have to give this recipe a go soon.
Lots of love from Germany,
xx
Lynn
Thanks so much, Lynn – hope all’s well in Germany!
I roasted the Asparagus before adding, as it brings out a wonderful flavor. Used thin spaghetti. Excellent recipe and will use this often. Thanks so much!
Thanks so much for letting me know, Jane – so glad it worked out for you. Love the idea of roasted asparagus – I’m going to try that the next time I make it!
This is exactly the kind of pasta dish that I love, Geraldine! Quick, flavorful, healthy, and seasonal. You and I have such similar tastes 🙂 And I 100% agree about sun-dried tomatoes. I used to dislike them until I discovered that the oil-packed tomatoes are delicious when chopped up.
Hope all is well down in LA!
Hi Julia – you and I definitely enjoy the same kind of dishes – fast, easy but with a twist. Loved your recent veggie burger recipe! xo!
Oh yum! I’m with you! I love the robust flavor of sun dried tomatoes! I imagine the punch that they give to this dish is fabulous! Everything I love right here in one bowl! You do that very well, my friend!!
Thanks so much, Annie. The sun dried tomatoes really make this dish!
Oh my, this comes under the category of inhalable food – truly, I can’t stop at one (or two) helpings when it comes to pasta… it’s my culinary crack ;o). Love the lemon, sun dried tomato and yes, asparagus in this beautiful dish Geraldine…. so delish. Incidentally, I was thinking of you this weekend; I was awoken at 12:47 AM Sunday by a cacophony of birds — SO loud, I could have sworn it was 6 AM… I’m no bird expert but there must be some breeding going on… had a lot of trouble sleeping though. On a separate note, I don’t seem to be seeing your posts on IG; either that or I’m having a lot of bad luck (I don’t tend to be on in the evenings). Cheers.
I agree, Kelly – totally can’t stop eating it! And those birds are still tweeting like crazy in my backyard too. Still looking for love I guess. No worries about IG – I post at night so it probably just gets buried.
You are my one pot pasta dish hero, Geraldine! Just loving the fresh local asparagus and combining it with pasta, tomatoes and a great lemon dressing is fantastic!
When I use thin asparagus in salads, I just peel the outer layer and serve it raw – tastes perfect 🙂
Adding this to next week’s Healthy Meal Plan! Sharing. Have a great Sunday.
Thanks so much, Robyn! And I really appreciate all the sharing that you do! I have to try peel thin asparagus – sounds delicious.
This is such a gorgeous pasta Geraldine. I love pasta with sun dried tomatoes. I bet it tastes wonderful with that lemon dressing. BTW. . .Such an interesting little tidbit on asparagus.
Thanks so much, Lynn – I’m a big lemon fan – love it in dressings and on pasta – and I have a lemon tree so need to use up those lemons as much as I can :).
Sun dried tomatoes are such great little flavor bombs. GREG
I agree, Greg!
The asparagus tidbit… very nice! Asparagus season is just getting under way here… so I’m looking forward to at least another month or two! Love this combination of flavors, Geraldine. You nailed it for me on the sun-dried tom issue. I have the same problem! They can be sooo chewy.. but too, to spread their flavor around, mincing is a good practice! That dressing has my attention.. I bet it makes this recipe extra creamy! Gorgeous recipe and photography!
Looking forward to seeing more asparagus recipes from you, Traci – I loved your shaved asparagus salad. I have yet to try that technique but you’ve inspired me. Hope you have a great weekend!
The only thing I love more than pasta dishes are quick to make pasta dishes! I love that you used asparagus here! This is perfect for a light, quick dinner!
Thanks so much, Kathy!
Interesting asparagus facts Geraldine. Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables and I also am a fan of sundried tomatoes. The lemon basil dressing sounds delish! Pinned!
I’m a big asparagus fan too, Mary Ann. Could eat it at every meal. Thanks for the pin!
I had no idea that was what determined asparagus thickness! How interesting! This pasta is so perfect for spring, I love the asparagus and that lemon basil sauce! I have similar feeling about sun dried tomatoes, so I need to try your trick! Such a great pasta dish, Geraldine! Pinning!
I agree, Meghan – I always thought it was just how long the asparagus had been growing for – like how a zucchini becomes gigantic the longer you let it grow!
My husband claims he hates sun dried tomatoes, but I absolutely adore them, so I’m going to try your trick and mince them realllllly fine! Love this pasta dish, Geraldine! So perfect for spring and that lemon basil dressing sounds amazingly delicious! Can’t wait to try this! Keep your fingers crossed the hubster doesn’t complain about the sun dried tomatoes! Well, actually if he does, it just means more for me… so maybe that won’t be a bad thing! 😉 Cheers, dear
Definitely sneak that sun dried tomato in your next dish by mincing it, Cheyanne – I’m sure your husband will never know!
So interesting about why asparagus are the size they are – I never knew that! This pasta dish looks SO delish and absolutely perfect for Spring. I need to get some asparagus!
Thanks so much, Rachel!