Pasta with Lemon Asparagus & Hazelnut Gremolata
Gremolata is traditionally made with parsley, garlic, and lemon zest, and is used as a topping over a variety of foods. In this version, hazelnuts are added to increase the complexity of flavors, as well as to compliment the crunchiness of the asparagus.
This is a wonderfully light tasting pasta, that can be made with or without cheese.
Pasta with Lemon Asparagus & Hazelnut Gremolata
Light tasting pasta dish with a wonderful bit of crunch from the asparagus and hazelnut topping
Ingredients
- 1 lb GF fettuccine or long pasta
- 1 bunch asparagus trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2-4 Tbsp lemon juice to taste
- Zest from 1/2 lemon
- ½ cup Italian parsley or cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup Parmesan finely grated (powdered), optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
Gremolata
- 1/4 cup GF panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup hazelnuts medium chopped
- 1/2 Tbsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- Zest from 1/2 lemon
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to directions, reserve 1/2 cup of liquid to use in sauce.
- To prepare Gremolata, toast panko and nuts in dry skillet over med-high heat until panko turns golden brown. Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Set aside.
- Steam or boil asparagus until just tender-crisp. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and cook garlic for about a minute. Add asparagus, pasta, and remaining ingredients (except cheese), and stir until combined. Add just enough of the reserved pasta water until a bit of a sauce is created. Bring to a simmer and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and stir in cheese to thicken sauce.
- Divide among 4 dishes and top with 1-2 Tbsp of the gremolata.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
What is gluten free about the pasta and panko???
You are posting on a gluten free club site.
Which is why I indicate “GF” before all ingredients that can contain gluten, so you know to look for a gluten-free alternative. Pasta and panko both have gluten-free varieties available at your local grocery store (if you look at the picture below in the recipe you will see what brand of gluten-free panko I used).
Thanks