Spaghetti With Asparagus, Smoked Mozzarella And Prosciutto

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 lbs asparagus, trimmed
• 3/4 lb spaghetti
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 6 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut crosswise into strips
• 6 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese, diced (about 1 cup)
• 6 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
• 3 tablespoons chopped chives
• 1/2 chopped fresh tomato

Recipe

• 1 cook the asparagus in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• 2 with a slotted spoon, remove asparagus from boiling water to a bowl of ice water to cool and stop the cooking. when cool, strain, cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces, and set aside.
• 3 return the water in the pot to a boil, adding additional water, if necessary.
• 4 add the pasta and cook until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• 5 heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 20 seconds.
• 6 add asparagus to the skillet. season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• 7 add the pasta, and if needed, some of the reserved cooking liquid. toss to coat.
• 8 add the prosciutto, mozzarella, and basil, and toss to combine. sprinkle with chopped chives and tomato.
• 9 turn off the heat. season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.