As much as I draw inspiration from cookbooks, blog posts and photos of food, the visual cues from a walk at the farmers' market motivate my creativity more than any other medium. My last visit yielded organic asparagus, cherry tomatoes, fresh English peas, cauliflower, and a flat of strawberries. The veggies, minus the cauliflower became this yummy farmers market pasta dish and the strawberries became lunch snacks and homemade strawberry jam (you can find the basic recipe here - I just used all strawberries).
When I posted the photo of the pasta dish, I had so many requests for the recipe that I quickly wrote down notes of how I did it and promised I would write it up. My photo is limited to just this quick snap taken before gobbling it up.
Before preparing the pasta, I did a quick search for recipes to brainstorm about what order to cook the ingredients in and drew inspiration from this 2010 Bon Appetit recipe: Fettucine with Peas, Asparagus, and Pancetta.
Enjoy and drop me a note if you give it a try!
Another one with inspiration from the farmer's market is my blistered tomato, corn and arugula salad.
For ease of browsing, here are all of my main course recipes and my salads and side dishes all in one place.
Do you shop at the farmers' market in your area and if so, what are you most looking forward to during the late spring and summer growing seasons?
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P.S. If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating and/or a review in the comment section below. I so appreciate your feedback! AND find more inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram. Signup for my email list, too!
Farmers Market Pasta with Asparagus, Peas, and Cherry Tomatoes
Beth LeeIngredients
- 1 box of pre-cut pancetta from Trader Joe's or about ½ - ⅔ cup chopped
- 1 large shallot finely chopped (you can use onion also)
- 1 clove of garlic sliced
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 15 spears Fresh asparagus snapped at the end and sliced into 1-inch pieces
- ½ cup Fresh english peas - pods removed
- 15 Cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 10 ounces Penne
- One meyer lemon - zested and juiced
- ¼ cup Fresh italian parsley chopped
- ¼ cup Fresh basil chopped
- ¼ cup heavy cream or half and half optional
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- ⅛ - ¼ cup olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- red chili peppers to taste optional
Instructions
- I had pasta already prepared. If you don't, cook your pasta according to package directions - you can certainly use other pasta shapes than penne but I liked how easily this pasta mixed with the veggies. Preparing the pasta ahead of time is a real time-saver at the end of a long day. The only downside is that you don't have the hot starchy pasta sauce to add to your sauce. I found this was not a problem with the use of the chicken stock to cook the veggies.
- Saute the pancetta until the fat is rendered and they are beginning to brown. Remove the pancetta from the pan onto a paper-towel lined plate to drain. This can be done ahead of time if you like.
- Leave the fat in the pan, removing excess if there is more than about 1 tablespoon of fat left.
- Heat a 12 inch skillet to medium. Add the shallots and garlic and let them start to soften for one or two minutes. Add some dried red chili peppers if you want some heat at this point as well. Then add the asparagus and peas and chicken stock/broth and salt and pepper to taste, allowing the veggies to cook for 2 - 3 minutes. They should be almost fork tender but not quite.
- Add in the cooked pasta, the lemon juice, lemon zest, tomatoes and mix. Then add the parsley and basil, a bit of cream if using, mix again and check for moisture. If it's too dry, you can add more cream, more chicken stock, more lemon juice, some hot pasta liquid or some white wine (whatever strikes your fancy).
- Once it is all warmed through, add in the parmesan cheese, olive oil and some more salt and pepper to taste mixing one last time.
- Serve in bowls with a bit more basil, parmesan, and olive oil sprinkled on top if you like.
Jordan
Was just searching for some inspiration what to cook with my gnocchi (wanting peas and prosciutto, but also wanted some blistered tomatoes)... Love the way you write your recipes. it's exactly how I think when I'm putting something together in my kitchen. "Make this ahead or not", "throw some of this in there or not", "maybe make some extra for lunch tomorrow or not".
I haven't come across a food blog that's so on point with the way I cook in a long time. Loved it so much I signed up for your eblast! I'm also a marketing prof on the West Side (I noticed your SanMo business address on the mail chimp confirmation).
I tend to hit up the Brentwood farmers market on Sundays the most - if you have a chance check out the homemade pasta guy that sells the burrata. His Burrata is so delicious!!! and PERFECT for a grilled peach and arugula salad.
Thanks for the dinner idea for tonight!! 🙂
Beth Lee
Hi Jordan, You just made my day. I love hearing from readers, especially that I am an inspiration because that's what I always aim to do. I am just starting video and posted today on youtube and it will be coming on my blog and FB a simple video about using fresh produce from the farmers' market for a simple summer chopped salad with tomatoes and cucumbers - Israeli style! I actually live in NorCal -- my web guy put that address on my email blasts. But I get down south frequently and love to always hit farmers' markets anywhere I go. Your suggestion is noted! Let me know how the pasta comes out. So nice to be in touch!
Beth Lee
P.S. - a marketing prof? That's my actual background before food and I am now working with food companies to help them with marketing. Let's stay in touch and chat some more.
Jordan
Thanks for the quick response - Always happy to leave a note that puts a smile on someone's face. 🙂 I'll definitely take a look at the video you just posted - thanks for the heads up! I helped build a website for a friend that has a food blog about cooking with his daughter. He's a single dad and their quality time together is spent in the kitchen. It's a great concept and I'm excited to see where he takes it. It's called DaddyDaughterCooking.com (same handle as URL on IG) if you're interested in checking it out!
With regard to the day job... I was also in marketing for F&B for the past 7 years (restaurant groups... first, a large sports bar company and then Pink Taco). I recently transitioned into tech/mobile apps. It's been quite the change - big learning curve for me - but loving it so far.
Having worked in restaurants, along with a brother that is a chef (he spent some time working at the French Laundry) and parents that own a steakhouse, I'm always looking for new recipes.
Looking forward to your recipes in my inbox as well.
***tried to rate the recipe (5 stars), but I'm having trouble selecting any stars.
Beth Lee
Hi again Jordan - I have a nephew working in marketing at this company - Apptimize - might be of some interest to your current focus. What a wonderful back story of food in your family. Also love that you helped with your friend's blog. Will definitely go check it out. Really love the concept.
Re stars - I am currently converting to a new recipe plugin and that is probably why the stars don't work on an older recipe. I appreciate the thought - and am working on the fix!
Ronda Chesser Porter
I LOVE THIS WAY OF COOKING! Since coming home from Italy I have become obsessed with cooking with what's fresh and available daily at my local green grocer. Found you on the SITS linky. Great recipe - thanks for sharing! I'll be back!
Beth Lee
Thanks for coming by Ronda. Yes, I find myself unable to shop for one or two weeks of groceries anymore. I am much more motivated by what's fresh or what feels right or doable that day. Will be over to check out your site later today!
Andrea Holloway
Pasta dishes are easy ways to work more local ingredients into your diet. Local vegetables, meats, and cheeses make quick, delicious, healthful pasta dishes.
Beth Lee
You are absolutely right and nowhere is that more evident than in Italy. Just came back and am always in awe of their fresh food and how creatively yet simply they use it. Thanks for stopping by!
Kate
I wanted to stop by and check out your site. You have so much yumminess going on!! And you have one of the cutest headers I've ever seen. I love it! =)
Phil
Your photos always make me want to run to the kitchen cupboard and pull out a pot! ;o)
Tamara
It's one of my favorite warm weather dishes - pasta with some sort of cheese, peas and other veggies. My mouth is literally watering as I read this and I am about to leave for Trader Joe's..pancetta on the list!
Beth Lee
Great - hope you found the short-cut pre-chopped pancetta and enjoy some pasta this weekend. Let me know how it turns out!
misssrobin
It looks so yummy! Nothing is yummier than fresh produce from the farmers' market. Can't wait until they start opening in our area. We live in Utah, so it's very seasonal around here.
Thanks for sharing. Happy Sharefest. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Beth Lee
When will the markets open in your area? Mid May? Hope it is warming up and starting to feel like spring and summer! Thanks for coming by.
Deb
A perfect dinner Beth! Easy to prepare, with a flexible recipe and vibrant seasonal ingredients, a very appealing recipe!
Beth Lee
Always great to see your avatar in my comments Deb. So looking forward to meeting you in person. And isn't it always exciting when the spring and summer harvest start appearing? It never really gets repetitive does it?
Hannah
Such a bright, colorful dish, Beth - just bursting with flavor! What a celebration of spring you created. I agree, strolling through the market is the best inspiration. I am crazy about berries, so I pounce on flats when I see them. But really, I love all of the spring and summer bounty...my husband jokes that I just bring him along to carry the loot!
Beth Lee
Ha - you're lucky your hubby will go. Mine will visit markets with me when we travel but at home @dormantchef is also @dormantshopper 🙂
Hannah
I ply him with ginger beer and tamales along the way...thank goodness for all the food stalls!
Sandy Corman
Looks delish. Too tired to make today.Been working outside mostly at the pool which has something wrong with it every time I check it. Today a clamp came off the hose so did a quick stop at Leslies. All fixed I hope. But I will get some of the ingredients next time and try it.
Beth Lee
yes - you should try this - you don't have to follow the recipe word for word - just follow the basic idea using what you have on hand. And you can make extra for lunch the next day or another dinner.
Carol Sacks
So fresh and colorful! Lovely dish, Beth.
Beth Lee
For a minute while I wrote this, I stopped and imagined that my farmers' market was half as lovely as yours :-). But I'm not complaining, access to one twice a week, small or not, is fantastic!
Lizthechef
This really looks like spring! I am always on the hunt for rhubarb for my husband's seasonal pie.
Beth Lee
I think I saw some rhubarb last time I hit the market but for some reason I didn't buy any. It would have been great in the strawberry jam! Thanks for stopping by Liz! Hope you had a great birthday.