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Fresh Pasta with Spicy Corn and Asparagus
© Tina Rupp

Fresh Pasta with Spicy Corn and Asparagus

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  • ACTIVE: 45 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 HR
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • •VEGETARIAN

Plus: Pasta Recipes and Tips

pasta

  1. 4 large eggs
  2. 2 large egg yolks
  3. 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  4. Salt
  5. 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling

Vegetables

  1. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  2. 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  3. 1 large jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
  4. 2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 4 large ears)
  5. 1 pound pencil-thin asparagus, stalks sliced 1/4 inch thick and tips left whole
  6. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  7. 6 tablespoons freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for serving
  1. In a glass measuring cup, mix the whole eggs, egg yolks, olive oil and a pinch of salt. Put the flour in a food processor. Drizzle the egg mixture over the flour and process in long pulses until the dough is evenly moistened and forms small clumps, about 2 minutes. Transfer the dough to a work surface and knead until smooth and silky, about 2 minutes. Shape into a ball, wrap in plastic and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
  2. Cut the dough into quarters; work with 1 piece at a time and keep the rest covered. Flatten the dough slightly and run it through successively narrower settings on a pasta machine until you reach the last setting. Trim the ends and cut the pasta sheet into 12-inch lengths. Drape the pasta sheets over a drying rack and let dry for 10 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough.
  3. Lightly flour 2 pasta sheets and stack them on top of each other. Starting at a short end, roll up the sheets very loosely. Trim the edges and, using a large knife, cut the rolled dough into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Unroll the strips, toss lightly with flour and transfer to a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Repeat the process with the remaining sheets of pasta. Toss the cut pasta occasionally to separate the strands.
  4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until barely al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the cooking water.
  5. Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet until shimmering. Add the red onion and jalapeño and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the corn and asparagus stems and tips and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.
  6. Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water and a generous pinch of salt and pepper to the vegetables and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Add the pasta and cook, stirring, until the liquid is nearly absorbed and the pasta is tender, about 2 minutes; if necessary, add a little more of the pasta cooking water. Add 6 tablespoons of the grated Pecorino and toss. Serve the pasta in shallow bowls, passing extra Pecorino at the table.
Make Ahead The pasta can be prepared through Step 3 and refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 1 month. To freeze, toss with cornmeal and store in a sturdy plastic bag.

Suggested Pairing

A crisp Italian Pinot Grigio will provide a palate-cleansing contrast to this pasta.