Pasta With Asparagus, Goat Cheese, And Lemon - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti
1/2 pound asparagus, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 ounces chevre (soft goat cheese), crumbled
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, or more to taste
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste (optional)

Preparation

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, for 9 minutes. Add asparagus to the pot. Continue cooking until spaghetti is tender yet firm to the bite, about 3 minutes. Drain spaghetti and asparagus, reserving some cooking water.
Combine goat cheese, olive oil, basil, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Add hot spaghetti, asparagus, and 2 tablespoons of cooking water; mix well. Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Serve with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.