Healthy Fresh Asparagus and Garlic Pasta

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions in a large pot of salted water. Here’s a useful tip - don’t forget to reserve some pasta water before draining. It can be used to adjust the sauce consistency later.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté until it releases its aroma. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it becomes bitter and loses its pleasant flavor.

Add the asparagus to the pan, season with salt and pepper, and cook for around 8-10 minutes until it's tender yet retains a bite. I normally test a stalk with a fork to check its doneness.

Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to the pan with asparagus and garlic. Mix it nicely so that the pasta is well combined with the flavorful garlic oil and gets coated evenly. You can add a splash of your reserved pasta water here if you feel it's a bit dry.

Serve the pasta hot, garnished with freshly grated parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon juice. The lemon really lifts all the flavors and balances out the strong garlic.