Pasta With Smoked Salmon

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Cream, heavy

1 pound Asparagus

6 ounces Salmon, smoked

1 Lemon

3/4 pound Fettuccine

2 tablespoons Butter

Salt and pepper

Preparation

In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil and let simmer to reduce to one cup. Break off the ends of the asparagus, cut the spears into pieces and cook in boiling salted water for about seven minutes or until they are tender; drain. Cut the salmon into strips. Grate one teaspoon of lemon zest and squeeze one teaspoon of juice from the lemon.

Cook the pasta in boiling water about 12 minutes or till just done. Return to the hot pot and toss with the reduced cream, asparagus, smoked salmon, lemon zest and juice, and butter. Salt to taste and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. Serve immediately.

If using ricotta cheese and milk instead of the cream, do not reduce it but mix only the amount the recipe calls for and heat. Puree the ricotta in a blender and thin with a little milk.