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Pasta asparagi e speck

17/11/2023

Pasta with asparagus and speck is a flavorful first course, perfect for spring when asparagus is in season. Here’s the recipe for preparing it, with an Italian touch:

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
  • 400 g of fresh asparagus
  • 150 g of speck, cut into strips
  • 1 shallot
  • 80 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

  1. Clean the asparagus by removing the harder end of the stem. Wash the asparagus under running water, cut the tips and set them aside. Slice the stems into rounds or small pieces.
  2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the asparagus for about 3-4 minutes. Remove them with a slotted spoon, keeping the cooking water to use for the pasta.
  3. In a large pan, sauté the finely chopped shallot in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Once it turns golden, add the speck and let it flavor for a few minutes.
  4. Add the asparagus rounds (excluding the tips) to the pan with the speck and cook for about 5-8 minutes, until they become soft. If you like, you can add a sprinkle of nutmeg to enhance the dish’s aroma.
  5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in the asparagus cooking water according to the package instructions.
  6. A few minutes before the pasta is ready, add the asparagus tips to the pan to cook while keeping them crunchy.
  7. Drain the pasta al dente and transfer it to the pan with asparagus and speck. Mix well to flavor the pasta and, if necessary, add some cooking water to make it creamier.
  8. Plate and sprinkle with plenty of grated Parmesan cheese, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Serve immediately, while the dish is still hot and the cheese melts perfectly with the ingredients.

Curiosity

Speck is a traditional cured meat from Alto Adige, characterized by a balanced mix of flavors due to a processing that combines smoking and curing. The association between the sweetness of the asparagus and the smoked flavor of the speck creates a tasty contrast that makes this dish simple yet full of nuances.