Pasta with asparagas gremolata

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
¾cupReduced chicken broth
¼cupOlive oil
122x1/2\" strips orange zest
4mediumsGarlic cloves
2tablespoonsWhole Italian parsley leaves
1poundsAsparagas, trimmed and cut diagonally into 1/4\" slice packed
Cooked pasta of your choice

Directions

GREMOLATA

Put the orange zest, garlic, and parsley in a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse the machine several times, stopping to scrape down the bowl, then process until finely chopped.

Bring the reduced broth to a boil in a saucepan. (To make reduced broth, briskly boil 2 cups of broth until it evaporates to one cup.) Set it aside, covered.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over moderate-to-high heat.

Saute the asparagas until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes.

Spoon the asparagas over freshly cooked pasta. Sprinkle with the gremolata, then moisten with the hot broth.

Note: Use a small, sharp paring knife to cut the strips of zest very carefully from an orange, making sure to remove none of the bitter white pith.