Lemon And Asparagus Fettuccine Pasta

LOW-CARB LEMON AND ASPARAGUS FETTUCCINE PASTA

Ready for a simple summer-in-a-bowl recipe? If you’ve explored It’s Skinny recipes before, you likely know that we’re all about ease when it comes to cooking. Well, this lemon and asparagus fettuccine pasta hit all the right notes.

In the summer (or even in the winter), you don't want to spend hours in the kitchen working on a pasta dinner. No worries here—lemon asparagus fettuccine pasta takes about 5 minutes to pull together and delivers all the right flavor notes! Enjoy pasta night anytime!

MAKE THE MOST OF ASPARAGUS SEASON!

Asparagus is a unique vegetable that’s truly delicious and nutritious. Unlike many vegetables, asparagus is perennial, meaning it will come back year after year. Whether you have some in your garden or pick up some spears at your farmers market, you’re in for a tasty treat.

Asparagus is characterized by green stalks that are some of the first edible plants to shoot up in the spring. You can find purple and white varieties of asparagus, too. Although it first grows in the spring, when you'll find the tenderest stalks, you can often find it year-round in your local grocery store. For the best results, remove the woody ends if your asparagus is a little thicker.

As for the nutritional value of asparagus, it's very healthy. It's an excellent source of fiber, magnesium, vitamin B6, calcium, and many other vitamins and minerals. It's low in calories and carbohydrates. It's also very delicious, with a distinctive herbaceous, grassy flavor that people love.

We use a carrot peeler to shave each tender asparagus spear into long ribbons for this recipe. If you've never tried to do this before, it's a game-changer! The asparagus cooks up faster, and you get plenty of flavor in each and every bite. It's a fun way to complement the shape of the Fettuccine noodles and might be your new favorite way to fit in more veggies!

Asparagus pairs beautifully with fresh lemons and shallots. You get a little bit of mild bite and sweetness from the shallot, along with the zesty sourness from the fresh lemon juice. Lemon adds a vitamin C boost, too. The combination is bright, fresh, and very satisfying.

We top this lemon asparagus fettuccine pasta with some parmesan cheese for an extra satisfying flavor and a slightly creamy sauce. You could keep it vegan by omitting the parm and using salt, pepper, and the zest of the lemon. You could also add a few fresh herbs like dill or parsley. Red pepper flakes can add a dash of heat, too.

However, we feel this dish is the perfect combination as-is. It makes a great main course. If you'd like a little protein boost, you could serve it as a side dish with chicken, shrimp, or grilled steak. No matter how many different ways you serve it, this dish's bright flavor captures the essence of summer simplicity.

LIGHTENED-UP FETTUCCINE

Now, pasta is delicious ANY time, but if the weather is warm, you might be craving some lighter fare. This lemon asparagus pasta is perfect because we use ultra-light It's Skinny Fettuccine.

It's Skinny Fettuccine has the taste and texture of its traditional counterpart, but there are ZERO net carbs and only 9 calories for an entire pack. This pasta will fill you up but never weigh you down. There's no sluggish carb coma after you enjoy a bowl of delicious It's Skinny—just pleasant satisfaction.

How did we get the skinny in It’s Skinny? Another interesting plant called konjac. The root of the konjac plant resembles a turnip, potato, or radish. It’s a fibrous, round root that happens to make the perfect ingredient for lightened-up pasta.

Konjac contains plenty of fiber. In this case, it’s a special type of fiber known as glucomannan. This fiber is filling and satisfying. In some studies, it’s been shown to keep blood sugar levels steady, so there’s no feeling of being overly full and then starving an hour later.

We make It's Skinny in Organic and Traditional varieties. All four of our amazing It's Skinny Pasta styles are available in both! Choose from Spaghetti, Fettuccine, Angel Hair, and Rice Shape. If you can't decide, we suggest a variety pack to get the best of all worlds.

How do you use It’s Skinny Pasta (and Rice Shape)? Just like you would use traditional cooked pasta and rice. It’s Skinny makes delicious noodle dishes. Enjoy it as a pasta swap for all your favorite meals. Use the rice shape to make bowls that rival any fast-casual food chain. You can even make risotto and rice pudding!

No matter how you make it, It’s Skinny is simple and delicious. Unlike some other varieties of Shiratki noodles, there’s no aftertaste or strong smell. It’s Skinny doesn’t require special cooking tools (like a rice cooker) or extra time (like pasta). Instead, follow the package directions--you open the pack, drain, rinse, and it’s ready to enjoy even on busy weeknights.

It’s Skinny Pasta and Rice Shape cook up in about 2-3 minutes. The gluten-free pasta takes on the flavors of the other ingredients in your delicious dish, so they’re the perfect pairing for any sauces or toppings. Add protein, veggies, and some cheese, and you’re ready to enjoy a yummy guilt-free dish.

It’s Skinny Pasta and It’s Skinny Rice Shape are great for a variety of eating styles and meal plans. If you follow the keto diet, vegetarian, vegan, kosher, paleo, or a low-carb meal plan, It’s Skinny has you covered. You can enjoy 9-calorie It's Skinny as the base of any dish for a filling, satisfying meal. Put It's Skinny in your regular rotation.

MAKE LEMON ASPARAGUS PASTA YOUR WAY

Ready to try this ultra-delicious and summery dish? You can modify and play around with ingredients to make a keto asparagus pasta that's truly your own. It's a great dish for an easy weeknight dinner. Here are a few questions we get about variations on lemon asparagus pasta.

CAN I ADD PROTEIN TO THIS DISH?

We love protein! Protein is the key to unlocking diet success if you're watching your weight, building muscle, or hoping to stay satisfied. While asparagus and parmesan already have a little protein, you could add some meat or a vegetarian protein option to bulk up this recipe.

Chicken is the most likely ingredient for this lemony asparagus pasta. However, if chicken asparagus pasta isn't your thing, shrimp and even scallops would also be delicious. You could use marinated, firm tofu to keep the dish veg-friendly. Another excellent pairing with lemon asparagus is prosciutto or small pieces of ham or bacon.

WHAT HERBS WOULD GO WITH LEMON ASPARAGUS PASTA?

You could add almost any herb to this yummy keto pasta—it's a great way to celebrate nature's bounty. When those tender springtime herbs sprout, go through your garden and add anything you like! Asparagus and dill are great together with lemon pasta. We love asparagus with fresh parsley. Thyme and even oregano would also be nice in this meal.

If you want more flavor, include garlic or chives in your lemon asparagus pasta. This dish would be yummy with chili pepper flakes if you like heat. A little garlic powder can add flavor to this tasty lemon asparagus pasta recipe. You could also try cilantro to play up the citrusy flavors here. Fresh basil is always a winner.

CAN I ADD OTHER VEGGIES TO THIS VEGETARIAN PASTA?

We say bring on the veg! You can add any vegetables you like to this low carb pasta dish. While we love how this simple recipe showcases asparagus, plenty of other veggies play nicely with the stalks. It goes with almost any green vegetable. You could try pea shoots, sugar snap peas, spinach, zucchini, and even cauliflower.

Any onion goes well with this dish—red onion, green onion, or Vidalia onions. Garlic, leeks, or other aromatics are great here too. Peppers and tomatoes, especially cherry tomatoes, are a nice choice for this pasta. Mix it up and try any veggies you love! Hey, we know mushrooms aren't exactly a vegetable, but they also go very well with this dish.

LEMON ASPARAGUS FETTUCCINE PASTA RECIPE

Ready to go? Let’s cook! If you have a few minutes, this is a perfect, impressive dinner that comes together in no time flat. Of course, the flavors of asparagus and lemon sauce are delicious for summer, but you could enjoy this versatile dish any time of year. With It’s Skinny Fettuccine, there’s no guilt—only 9 calories and zero net carbs per pack.