Fettuccine with Spring Vegetables
- 1/2 small yellow onion
- 1 large carrot
- 1 medium celery stalk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces asparagus
- 3/4 red bell pepper
- 1 1/2 medium zucchini (8 ounces)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4-5 sprigs flat-leaf Italian parsley
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 10 ounces dried egg fettuccine
- Peel and finely chop the onion.
- Peel the carrot and cut into 1/2-inch dice.
- Wash the celery, trim the top and bottom, and peel the back to remove the tough strings.
- Cut it into 1/4-inch dice.
- Put the butter in a 12-inch skillet and place over medium-high heat.
- Once the butter begins to melt, add the onion, carrot, and celery and saute until the vegetables begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
- While the vegetables are sauteing, fill a 12-inch skillet with water and place over high heat.
- Cut off the white, woody bottom part of the asparagus spears, then peel the remaining bottom third.
- Add 1 teaspoon salt to the boiling water, then gently slide in the asparagus.
- Cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until the asparagus is tender, then lift them out and set aside.
- Fill a pot for the pasta with about 6 quarts of water, place over high heat, and bring to a boil.
- Wash the zucchini, trim the ends, and cut into 1/2-inch dice.
- Peel the pepper, core it and remove the seeds.
- Cut away any white pith inside the pepper and cut into 1-inch squares.
- When the onion, carrot, and celery are ready, add the zucchini and peppers.
- Season generously with salt and pepper and continue sauteing until the zucchini and peppers are quite tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
- While the zucchini and peppers are cooking, finely chop enough parsley to measure 1 1/2 tablespoons.
- Cut the cooked asparagus into pieces about 1 inch long.
- When the zucchini and peppers are ready, add the asparagus and saute for about another minute.
- Add the cream and parsley and continue cooking until the cream has thickened and reduced by almost half.
- While the cream is reducing, cook the pasta.
- Add about 2 tablespoons salt to the boiling pasta water, add the fettuccine, and stir until all the strands are submerged.
- Cook until al dente.
- When the pasta is done, drain it well, toss with the sauce and the freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and serve at once.
yellow onion, carrot, celery stalk, butter, asparagus, red bell pepper, zucchini, heavy cream, parsley, salt, freshly ground black pepper, egg fettuccine
Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/fettuccine-with-spring-vegetables-2 (may not work)