Sweet roasted garlic and tender asparagus tossed with spaghetti in olive oil, finished with lemon, Parmesan, and herbs.
# Required Ingredients:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large head garlic, top sliced off to expose cloves
02 - 1 bunch (about 1 lb) fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
→ Pasta
03 - 12 oz spaghetti
→ Other
04 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for roasting
05 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus additional for pasta water
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
09 - Zest of 1 lemon
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the top off the garlic head to expose the cloves, drizzle with a small amount of olive oil, wrap tightly in aluminum foil, and roast for 30 minutes until cloves are soft and golden brown.
02 - After the garlic has been roasting for 15 minutes, spread the asparagus pieces on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast in the same oven for 12-15 minutes until just tender-crisp.
03 - Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining thoroughly.
04 - Once the roasted garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze the softened cloves from their skins. Mash the cloves lightly with a fork to create a fragrant paste.
05 - Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mashed roasted garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and infused into the oil.
06 - Add the roasted asparagus and cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the garlic oil. Toss everything together thoroughly, adding the reserved pasta water a little at a time as needed to create a silky, cohesive sauce that coats the pasta.
07 - Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, chopped parsley, and red pepper flakes if using. Toss until the cheese melts and the ingredients are evenly distributed. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Plate the pasta immediately while hot, garnishing with additional grated Parmesan and fresh parsley sprigs for a vibrant presentation.
