Pasta with Feta Cheese and Asparagus

Ingredients

• •8 oz linguine
• •½ lb asparagus
• •2 Tbsp olive oil
• •¼ tsp kosher salt
• •¼ tsp cracked pepper
• •1 Tbsp garlic
• •1 tsp thyme
• •1 tsp oregano
• •½ tsp lemon zest
• •¼ tsp pepper flakes
• •6 oz feta cheese
• •¼ cup reserved pasta water
• •2 Tbsp flat-leaf parsley

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Method

From maplewoodroad.com — read the original

1. 1Start with bringing a pot of water to a boil.
2. 2Add enough salt to make it taste like the sea.
3. 3Add the pasta, adjust the heat, and keep it at a rolling boil. Stir a couple of times after a few minutes. This will prevent the pasta from sticking together.
4. 4While your pasta is cooking, heat 2 Tbsp of your favorite extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat.
5. 5Add the asparagus, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper. Stir occasionally.
6. 6Depending on the thickness of the asparagus spears, the amount of heat you’re using, and how soft you prefer your asparagus, this step takes between 5 to 10 minutes.
7. 7My asparagus spears were on the thinner side and I like them “al dente,” so they were finished after just 5 minutes.
8. 8Start tasting after about 5 minutes and you’ll be able to tell when they’re done to your liking.
9. 9A minute before the asparagus are done, add 1 Tbsp of chopped garlic, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp lemon zest, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat and give it a good stir before adding the feta cheese and the cooked pasta.
10. 10In the meantime, the pasta should be ready. Before draining the pasta, save about 1/4 cup of pasta water. This will be part of the sauce (together with the melted feta cheese).
11. 11Add crumbled/chopped feta cheese into the pan, reduce heat to just warm enough to melt the cheese, and give it a couple of minutes.
12. 12Then, add the drained pasta and reserved pasta water.
13. 13The melted cheese and pasta water will emulsify and – while occasionally gently stirring – coat the linguine.
14. 14Serve with a sprinkle of chopped parsley on top and enjoy!