Spring Pasta Primavera Veggies (Printer-Friendly)

A light Italian pasta bursting with colorful spring vegetables and herbs in a zesty lemon sauce.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or farfalle pasta

→ Fresh Vegetables

02 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
03 - 1 medium yellow squash, sliced into half-moons
04 - 1 cup asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 1 cup fresh or frozen peas

→ Aromatics & Herbs

08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
10 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
12 - Zest of 1 lemon
13 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice

→ Sauce & Seasonings

14 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
15 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
17 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water, then drain using a colander.
02 - Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped shallot and minced garlic, sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add sliced zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are just tender.
04 - Add halved cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes until tomatoes begin to soften.
05 - Transfer cooked pasta to the skillet with vegetables. Toss gently to combine all ingredients.
06 - Stir in reserved pasta water, lemon zest, lemon juice, chopped basil, and parsley. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
07 - Remove skillet from heat and fold in grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This pasta bursts with freshness and pure flavor, secret: the lemon zest makes all the difference.
  • It’s a crowd-pleaser that handles improvisation—toss in whatever spring veggies you have, and it still sings.
02 -
  • Don’t skip reserving the pasta water—it’s magic for keeping everything saucy, not dry.
  • Adding herbs at the last moment preserves their clean, fresh punch; muddling them early dulls the flavor.
03 -
  • If you accidentally overcook the veggies, a splash of lemon juice perks them up again.
  • Grate the Parmesan directly over the warm pasta for threads of melty goodness—never pre-grate if you can avoid it.
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