Creamy Pasta with Asparagus and Bacon
A delicious and easy pasta dish that can be made in minutes, creamy pasta with asparagus and bacon was inspired from the classic Italian dish Spaghetti carbonara.
INGREDIENTS
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
- 8-ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 cups whole milk, plus 1 cup, divided
- 12-ounces bowtie pasta
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 1-pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4-ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup Parmesean cheese, shredded or freshly grated
- 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta about 3 minutes less than the lowest minutes given on the package – not yet al dente; drain the pasta and rinse; set aside.
- In a 12-inch non-stick skillet or a cast iron skillet, cook the bacon until crispy.
- Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate; pour the bacon grease into a jar with a lid, if desired, and use for other cooking purposes at a later time.
- Using the same pan used for the bacon, heat to medium heat; add the mushrooms and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Cook the mushrooms until browned and the liquid is mostly evaporated; 4 to 5 minutes; transfer to the same plate as the bacon.
- In a larger pot, add the broth, 2 cups of milk, the pasta, ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper.
- Bring the mixture to a vigorous simmer and cook for about 8 to 9 minutes; stirring occasionally and moderating the heat so the mixture simmers but doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Stir in the asparagus and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes; until the asparagus is tender and the pasta is al dente but still slightly firm; it will continue to cook.
- There will be a bit of liquid left but that is how it should be as it will help make the creamy sauce in the next step.
- In a blender, combine 1 cup of milk, cream cheese and flour; blend until completely smooth.
- Slowly add the mixture to the pot while stirring quickly to combine; simmer for a couple of minutes until the sauce has thickened; remove the pot from the heat.
- Reserve a bit of bacon for a garnish and stir the rest of the bacon with the mushrooms into the sauce.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
- Plate the pasta and garnish with bacon and more Parmesan cheese, if desired.
ENJOY!!