Brown Butter Asparagus & Bacon Pasta
Brown Butter Asparagus & Bacon Pasta. Brown butter is the pasta sauce of the fall and tonight’s combination is with asparagus, crispy thick-cut bacon, and toasted walnuts. Sprinkled generously with Parmesan cheese and sprinkled with fresh cracked pepper. It’s all the flavors of the season and it’s so cozy and delicious. Happy Wednesday guys !!
Wednesday is always a pasta night in our house. I don’t know why that is, but there is seriously nothing not to love about a good middle of the week pasta pick me up. And you know we have been breaking out the brown butter sauce all fall…so why stop now?!
Another pasta in a nutty brown butter sauce and honestly, it’s hard not to love this combo. If you haven’t tried a brown butter pasta dish this fall, just do it. Trust me, you haven’t lived this fall until you’ve tried it. I don’t know what it is about brown butter and fall, but it is just so comforting and so cozy.
Tonight’s variation includes asparagus, crispy bacon, and toasted walnuts. A nutty brown butter always needs a good nut to pair. We usually like to go with walnuts or hazelnuts. But have you tried it with asparagus and bacon yet?! This is a seriously delicious combination…like I am talking, your not going to be able to put the fork down.
Anyway, we are midway through the week…thank god !! It has not been the best week for me, so this pasta and a nice, big glass of wine is really what I am needing tonight. Honestly, after the day I have had, I am thinking maybe even something stronger like a good fall cocktail. What are you guys eating tonight?! Hopefully something as fall inspired and as delicious as this pasta !!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound bacon; chopped
1 pound asparagus; trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
1 garlic clove; minced
salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1 pound large shell pasta
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy. Add the asparagus and cook for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
In a separate skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Stir continuously until the butter begins to brown. Add the walnuts and continue to cook for another minute.
Cook the pasta. Drain, saving 1 cup of pasta water. Add the pasta to the skillet with the bacon and asparagus. Add the brown butter and walnuts. Stir to combine and add pasta water as needed. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.
