Meatless Monday with Goat Cheese Pasta with Roasted Asparagus

Welcome to another Meatless Monday and on the menu tonight is fast and easy goat-cheese pasta with roasted asparagus. Fresh goat-cheese is moist, creamy and has a mild herbaceous flavor. This fabulous no-cook sauce can be elegantly paired with corkscrew pasta like cavatappi, Rotini or Fusilli. Goat-cheese itself works well when blended with pasta to make an instant creamy sauce, like we have today. The best part about this sauce is that it is ready in twenty-five minutes and has only five ingredients. This magnificent meal idea came form the Martha Stewart kitchens at Everyday Food.

Ingredients
• 2 bunches asparagus (2 pounds total), tough ends removed
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
• 12 ounces cavatappi or other short pasta
• 1 small log soft goat cheese (5 ounces), crumbled
• 2 to 3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives, for garnish

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for pasta. Place asparagus on a large rimmed baking sheet; dot with 1-tablespoon butter, and season with salt and pepper. Roast until tender, tossing occasionally for 10 to 15 minutes and then cut into 2-inch lengths.
2. While asparagus is roasting, generously salt boiling water. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Set aside 1 1/2 cups pasta water; drain pasta and return to pot.
3. In a medium bowl, combine goat cheese, remaining 3 tablespoons butter, and 1/2-cup pasta water. Season with salt and pepper and whisk until smooth. Add the goat-cheese mixture and asparagus to pasta. Toss to combine, adding more pasta water (if necessary) so sauce coats pasta. Serve pasta garnished with chives.

The recipe for goat cheese pasta with roasted asparagus serves four and can be adjusted very easily for any number of people. This creamy, tangy sauce tastes like it took hours to make so you are sure to impress even the most discerning pallet. Serve with a fresh tomato and cucumber salad which will provide a light and fresh contrast to the thick sauce for a complete meal. This would be a great dish to prepare at the end of a long day whether it’s for your family or other guests. Now you can have dinner on the table faster than a pizza can be delivered and best of all you know all the ingredients in it. Enjoy!