Spaghetti with Mascarpone Alfredo Sauce and Sugar Snap Peas
Spaghetti with Mascarpone Alfredo Sauce and Sugar Snap Peas is an easy spaghetti dish that features mascarpone and crème fraiche instead of the traditional heavy cream.
Spaghetti with Mascarpone Alfredo Sauce and Sugar Snap Peas is an easy spaghetti dish that features mascarpone and crème fraiche instead of the traditional heavy cream. It’s a great weeknight spaghetti recipe that is both decadent and satisfying.
This post first appeared July 14, 2013 as part of the Simple Sundays series. I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen!
Unwelcome Visitor
I had an unwelcome visitor in my kitchen the other day. I noticed him as I stood by my stove, melting butter in a pan. He came uncomfortably close, a dark speck, fast and dangerously near. My spatula became my weapon, and I brandished it high, transforming into stealth ninja mode. How dare a fly enter my domain!
He landed, near one of the stove’s knobs, and I knew this was my moment.
SMACK!
One stroke and he was gone.
My inner Mr. Miyagi had emerged, and I was feeling oddly proud of my victory. No, there were no chopsticks, but I was happy to focus on my dinner again. A quick sanitation detail and I turned my attention to the butter that was fully melted on the stove.
Spaghetti with Mascarpone Alfredo Sauce and Sugar Snap Peas
It was dinner time and my cupboards were dreadfully bare. All that was left was a package of pasta, some leftover chicken, and a gorgeous mess of fresh peas from the farmer’s market. The refrigerator offered a tub of mascarpone cheese and a wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano. So I got to work on an Alfredo sauce.
Spaghetti with Mascarpone Alfredo Sauce and Sugar Snap Peas was born out of necessity but a reminder of how some of the simplest things can be decadent and satisfying. I don’t indulge in creamy sauces that often, but this sauce, without the traditional heavy cream, was buttery and delicious, and perfect for a weeknight supper. As for any flies…well, they’ll have to find their own dinner.
More Simple Pasta Recipes
25 Simple Pasta Recipes
Swiss Chard Walnut Pesto Pasta
Skillet Eggplant Lasagna
Tomato and Mozzarella Ravioli with Tomatoes, Baby Kale and Artichokes
Linguine with Clams in White Wine Sauce
Spaghetti with Mascarpone Alfredo Sauce and Sugar Snap Peas
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 1/2 cups peas
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup mascarpone
- 1/4 cup crème fraîche
- 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- shredded cooked chicken optional
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Salt generously and cook the spaghetti according to the package directions until al dente.
- Retrieve the pasta and drain in a colander, reserving the salted water in the pot.
- Drop the peas into the pasta water and cook just a few moments until bright green and still with some bite.
- Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water and drain the peas.
- As the pasta is finishing its cooking, melt the butter in a deep sided sauté pan over medium low heat.
- Stir in the mascarpone and crème fraîche and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Once the sauce is creamy, add the spaghetti and peas and toss to coat. If adding shredded chicken, add it as well.
- Add the pasta water, 1/2 cup at a time, adding in increments until the desired consistency is reached.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Comments
COOKBOOK
What an awesome “green” pasta, perfect for spring!
This kind of simple pasta is exactly what I want for dinner after a long day! So delicious & quick & soporific. :)
these photos are mouth watering!! LOVE alfredo and great idea with mascarpone instead of creme fraiche. Bon appetit! :)
Any variation of pastas is good to me and this one seems both easy and delicious!!
Liren, this spaghetti looks absolutely fantastic! I especially like the sound of the mascarpone alfredo. I’ll have to try this!
I’m suddenly getting visions of you chasing that nasty fly with chopsticks… :) That spaghetti looks totally delicious! Love meals like that.
Funny how some dishes are born with what we have on hand. Your pasta look incredible and very delicious, Liren! I would love some right now to be honest :D
Some of the best meals I’ve ever eaten come out of scrounging through cupboards and the fridge when I haven’t been to the grocery store. I love the creativity of it. Simple ingredients become masterpieces.
It’s funny you should mention Mr. Miyagi. My sister and BIL just got home from a visit with family in San Diego and my BIL’s BIL (that looks weird typed out) got video of himself catching a fly with chopsticks. He’s half Chinese and married to a Filipina, so I suppose it was inevitable. Ha.
Have a good week!
Divine and so delicious!! Love when simple, fresh ingredients makes for the best meals :)
I chuckled so loudly while reading about the fly. It has to find it’s own dinner ;)
This dish looks amazing! Normally I don’t do too many cream based sauces because they’re so rich, but I love mascarpone and creme fraiche, plus you’ve freshened it up with those fabulous veggies. I would love this.
This looks gorgeous! Those peas look incredible!
I love mascarpone, this is pasta perfection!!
Thanks, Laura! Mascarpone is so versatile, isn’t it?
Oh my, this sounds divine! And it’s gorgeous, too.
Thanks so much, Cynthia!