Spring Pasta with Asparagus Peas & Feta

The arrival of spring brings so many good things to the cook’s table. Asparagus for example, is always a welcome sight to see. Sometimes I want to eat them simply with melted butter but at other times I like to include them into family meals. My spring pasta with asparagus, peas and Feta cheese is this year’s firm new family favourite.

John Lewis sent me a wonderful range of Tefal Ingenio enamel cookware to road test (including a pasta colander insert and a grill insert), so I decided to put together my spring pasta dish using only the Tefal Ingenio product range.

Would it work well? I will tell you what I thought after I have introduced you to the products………….

The pans £135 (The complete set comprises of: 16 and 20cm saucepans; 22 and 28cm frying pans; a 26cm sautepan, 26cm wok; 16, 20 and 26cm glass lids; 16 and 20cm plastic lids; two bakelite handles).

“Featuring their red Thermo-spot technology for optimum cooking temperature and a durable enamelled exterior with a superior non-stick coating for use with metal utensils (except whisks and knives), it is finished with anti-warp technology on the base for resistance and durability. Each piece in the range can be stacked inside each other to save space “.

The handles £15

“The innovative Ingenio bakelite handles have been proven to hold up to 10kg for safety. The key behind the innovative Ingenio range from Tefal, this detachable handle offers maximum comfort and security and has been proven to hold up to 10kg in weight.
Designed to complement and enhance your cooking experience, the handle is crafted from robust bakelite and attaches to the pans in the range with a simple one hand-one click mechanism”.

The lids £26.25

“For truly versatile cooking, this set of three glass lids from Tefal’s innovative Ingenio range are crafted from robust glass and feature a protective silicone rim.
Using evolutions in technology, they also feature fully collapsible knobs, allowing for flat storage and easy stackability, and can be used with the 16, 18 and 20cm saucepans in the range. The lids also feature collapsible handles to maximise space”.

The pasta colander £32

“Waste no time making great meals with this Ingenio colander insert from Tefal; perfect for cooking and draining your pasta in one. Crafted from robust and resistant stainless steel in a classic shape that is compatible with the 20cm Ingenio saucepan, it is designed to be stacked with the rest of the range for easy storage”.

The grill insert £12

“Perfect for healthier cooking and beautifully grilled food, this grill insert from Tefal’s innovative Ingenio range makes turning your frying pan into a grill a breeze. Crafted from robust and resistant stainless steel, it is compatible with the 26 and 28cm Ingenio frying pans and is oven safe up to 250°C”.

All the above information and more can be found on the John Lewis website along with reviews of the products.

My thoughts

I was impressed with the Tefal Ingenio pans. The pans stack together snugly and are also lightweight and very easy to clean. I used the saucepans and the pasta colander for cooking both the pasta and the vegetables. I have wanted a pasta colander ever since seeing Nigella use one regularly on her cookery shows. I can definitely say it is an added  advantage to have one of these useful strainers in your kitchen. It doubles up perfectly as an asparagus blancher and it is a good way to make sure you save some boiling water for soups, gravies and adding to pasta sauces.

The frying pans, like the saucepans, stack snugly away and the removable bakelite handles are also suitable for these pans. The handles clip on with ease and can be popped off with very little effort, just a click and release. The pans cooked like a dream and the non-stick coating meant there was very little effort needed with the washing up. I also love how little the pans and saucepans weigh. As someone who tends to use cast iron regularly, I cannot believe the difference in how little effort these pans are to lift.

What I really loved was how well the saucepan lids also stacked without taking up too much space. Normally lids are an awkward shape and I have drawers that rattle because of unstackable lids with knobs on. Normally lids just get in the way.  Tefal have produced lids with folding handles, I am so grateful. Every pan company should follow suit!

Disclosure:I received the Tefal Ingenio products for the purposes of review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am linking my recipe to:

Simple and in Season – Fuss Free Flavours & Ren Behan

Eat your Veg – Jo’s Kitchen Utterly Scrummy & Fuss Free Flavours

Print

Spring Pasta with Asparagus Peas & Feta

Course Main Course, Vegetarian

Cuisine Italian

Keyword spring pasta

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 2

Author Laura Scott

Ingredients

• 200 g messicani/orecchiette pasta shapes
• 1 bunch of asparagus blanched then cut in half and sliced down the middle
• 50 g unsalted butter
• A large handful of frozen peas lightly cooked
• 1 bunch of flat parsley finely chopped
• 100 ml double cream
• 1/2 lemon zest only
• Salt & pepper
• 1/2 block of Feta cheese crumbled
• Parmesan cheese for garnish

Instructions

1. Boil the pasta according to packet instructions and while the pasta is cooking, make the sauce
2. Also add the asparagus to the pasta for the last 2 minutes of cooking time
3. For the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan and fry the asparagus briefly over a medium heat for a couple of minutes before adding in the peas, lemon zest and parsley (apart from 1tbsp). Cook for another minute before adding in the double cream and seasoning
4. Strain the cooked pasta and add to the saucepan. Coat the pasta with the cream sauce and let it cook for 2 minutes before placing into serving bowls or plates
5. Top with the crumbled Feta and Parmesan and remaining parsley
6. Serve immediately.