Lemon Pasta With Asparagus And Cream

• 1 pound asparagus
• 2 peeled garlic cloves, each sliced in two
• 2 tablespoons of lemon zest (or the zest from two lemons)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup cream
• 1/2 pound dried pasta (tagliatelle or something similar)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to your taste
• 4 ounces fresh ricotta, divided
• Freshly grated parmesan cheese, for serving
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Snap the asparagus where the woody and tender stem meet and cut the stems into 1/2-inch pieces.
3. Warm the a nob of butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the asparagus and season with salt. Cook, stirring to turn and distribute the asparagus, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Take off heat and reserve until ready.
4. Add cream and garlic to a small sauce pan. Stir in the lemon zest and juice, all off heat and let steep until 10 mins before you'd like to serve the meal.
5. 10 minutes (or so) before you'd like to eat, start to warm cream over low heat - add red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the cream from the heat when a gentle steam starts to rise from the cream.
6. When the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Scoop out about 1/3 cup pasta water, and set aside.
7. Drain the pasta and add it to the asparagus along with the remaining butter. Place over medium heat. Use tongs to toss and melt the butter.
8. Add the lemon cream to the asparagus and toss again. rnTaste and adjust seasoning, adding more lemon zest or juice and salt if needed. If the pasta is dry, fold in some of the pasta water.
9. Divide among 2 plates. Season with pepper. Sprinkle with parmesan. Drop 2 tablespoonful's of ricotta on top of each. Devour. This is amazing.

asparagus, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, cream, pasta, unsalted butter, red pepper, fresh ricotta, parmesan cheese, salt

Taken from food52.com/recipes/39668-lemon-pasta-with-asparagus-and-cream (may not work)