Easy Green Garlic Pasta Recipe with Asparagus

A craving-worthy green garlic recipe

This simple, vegetarian green garlic pasta recipe embraces some of the finest aphrodisiacs of spring. It combines pencil-thin asparagus, simply baked–nothing could be easier or more perfect for a vegetarian, springtime supper.

And since asparagus is a noted aphrodisiac, this should be a strong contender for a healthy and stress-free date night recipe. But to give the flavor of this easy linguine recipe depth and a distinctive, springtime flair, I’ve included the somewhat elusive flavor of green garlic, an incredible alluim with a very short season.

This rarity is part of what makes young garlic so special. Of course, there’s the flavor. Green garlic has the flavor of garlic but is lighter, more subtle and slightly exotic. This can make cooking with green garlic a challenge.

But this light, fresh pasta recipe with asparagus and a simple, citrus sauce showcases that almost elusive flavor of young garlic.

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What is green garlic?

Also called spring garlic, green garlic is one of the finest, most fragile ingredients of spring. It’s simply young garlic before it separates into cloves. (They’re not the same as garlic scapes, which are curly green tendrils that form later in the season on the mature garlic.)

Typically, farmers will pull out these skinny garlic plants to thin their garlic crops. This makes room for the rest of their garlic plants still in the ground to mature. It’s like a springtime bonus for any of us lucky enough to get our hands on these uprooted, baby garlic plants.

What does green garlic taste like?

As I mentioned above, the flavor of spring garlic is like garlic but not. It is a mild, almost sweet version of garlic or something like a subtly flavored cross between garlic and green onions. But it is, of course, still garlic, with all the health benefits of garlic. And since garlic is on my list of the best aphrodisiacs, this springtime ingredient adds not only to the flavor of this green garlic pasta dish but also to its aphrodisiac potential.

Where can you get green garlic?

Green garlic is available in mid-spring. Look for it at farmers’ markets from April-May. It will look like a thick scallion (sometimes with a pink hue instead of white) and will have the aroma of garlic.

Recipe substitutions

This is one of my favorite spring garlic recipes. But of course, when spring is over, so is the season for fresh green garlic.

What can you use as a substitute for green garlic?

That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this pasta and asparagus recipe. It won’t have the same, subtle flavor as spring garlic pasta, but you can always use a clove of mature garlic in a pinch for an easy linguine dinner all the year through.

Just make sure to use fresh garlic for this veggie linguine recipe. Do not use precut, bottled garlic, or garlic cloves that are wrinkled or sprouting. And mince it finely; that will help keep the flavor mild to more closely mimic the effect of fresh, green garlic.

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Pasta substitutions for this vegetarian linguine recipe

This green garlic pasta calls for fresh linguine. It doesn’t have to be homemade linguine. But I prefer fresh over dried pasta for this vegetarian recipe with its simple, green garlic sauce.

Linguine, also called linguini, is a kind of long pasta noodle. The name basically means “little tongues.” And while it looks nothing like a human tongue, it does bear resemblance to a flickering snake tongue. (This I associate with a certain sexiness in my pasta dish.)

Could you swap out the linguini pasta for fresh spaghetti or angel hair? Absolutely. But if you serve green garlic spaghetti, you’d miss out on serving your lover a plate of dancing tongues.

TO TRY: More easy pasta recipes

Green Garlic Linguine with Asparagus

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This memorable pasta recipe for spring showcases green garlic and tender, young asparagus. 

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Dish Type pasta

Cooking Style Easy, Vegetarian

Diet and Health healthy-ish

Seasonal Mother's Day, spring

Ingredient asparagus

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Servings 4 servings

Author Amy Reiley

Ingredients

• 1 lb pencil-thin asparagus trimmed
• 9 oz fresh linguine pasta
• 1/2 cup pasta cooking water reserved
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 stalk green garlic white and pale green part, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 1/4 tsp fresh lemon zest
• additional salt to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Arrange asparagus on a baking sheet and cook for 7-9 minutes, until asparagus is just hinting at fork tender. Do not overcook. (You can also steam asparagus in microwave.)
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to instructions until just al dente. When pasta has finished cooking drain, reserving 1/2 c of the pasta water for the sauce.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds to 1 minute. If garlic begins to brown, turn down heat.
• Add the asparagus and salt and cook for an additional minute, tossing to thoroughly combine, then remove from heat.
• In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk then mix with the Parmesan and 1/3 c of the pasta water.
• Return the pasta to the pot and add the egg yolk mixture. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, until sauce is thick and pasta coated. If the sauce gets too thick, add additional pasta water. Toss in the asparagus and season with additional salt to taste.
• Top with lemon zest before serving.

Notes

If you can't find green garlic, you can substitute with finely minced cloves of mature garlic. 

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