This delicious pasta recipe with asparagus and poached egg is so simple! You only need a few ingredients, and it's ready in less than 30 minutes. It's perfect for a busy weeknight or a quick weekend lunch.
The combination of tender asparagus, salty ham, and a soft poached egg is just perfect. The runny egg yolk mixes with the pasta, making it creamy—without any heavy sauce! I've added my best tips to make sure it turns out great every time.
Creamy Asparagus & Ham Spaghetti Recipe
Asparagus, also called "white gold," is a real springtime favorite! In the Netherlands, asparagus season starts in April and lasts until late June, so this dish is perfect for that time of year.
The slightly sweet asparagus goes really well with salty ham and a rich poached egg. Using fresh ingredients and simple cooking steps, you get restaurant-quality flavor with very little effort—just the way I like it!
What do you need?
The full list of ingredients is in the recipe card below, but here are some handy tips.
- Asparagus: White or green, both work! For the best quality, choose class AA. Thicker asparagus (AAA) and thinner ones (A) also work.
- Ham cubes: Adds a salty contrast. No ham? Use crispy bacon or smoked salmon instead.
- Spaghetti: a great choice, but you can also use tagliatelle or linguine.
How to Make (4 Simple Steps!)
- Step 1 Prepare the Asparagus: Peel the asparagus with a vegetable peeler. Hold the bottom and bend—it will snap naturally. Put the peels in a pan, place the asparagus on top, and cover with water. Bring to a boil, cook for 10 minutes, then let sit for another 10 minutes. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Step 2 Cook the Pasta: Cook the spaghetti according to the package.
- Step 3 Poach the Eggs: Heat water with vinegar until it boils gently. Stir to make a whirlpool, then add the egg. Poach for 3 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon.
- Step 4 Assemble the Dish: Drain the pasta and mix with butter, asparagus, and ham. Divide onto plates and place a poached egg on top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. Break the yolk, mix, and enjoy!
What to Serve with Pasta & Asparagus?
- A fresh salad: Try this strawberry & pistachio salad.
- Garlic bread: Perfect if you want something extra!
- A glass of white wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio is a great choice.
Did you make this recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram. I enjoy seeing what your creation looks like. Video recipes can be found on my YouTube channel. And don't forget to save the recipes on Pinterest so you can easily find them next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 11 oz. asparagus, white or green
- 14 oz. spaghetti
- 4 eggs, size L
- 5 oz. ham cubes , or bacon
- ½ stick butter, in small cubes
- ½ oz. parsley , chopped finely
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
Prepare the Asparagus
- Peel the asparagus using a vegetable peeler.11 oz. asparagus
- Hold the bottom of the asparagus and bend the top until it breaks naturally.
- Wash the peels and place them at the bottom of a pan. Put the asparagus on top of the peels and add enough water to cover the asparagus.
- Bring the water to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and let the asparagus rest in the water for another 10 minutes.
- Remove the asparagus from the pan and cut it into 1-inch (3 cm) pieces.
Cook the Pasta and Eggs
- Bring two pans of water to a boil:One for cooking the spaghetti.One with vinegar for poaching the eggs.¼ cup white vinegar
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente.14 oz. spaghetti
- Carefully crack an egg into a small glass (keeping the yolk intact).4 eggs
- Stir the vinegar water with a spoon to create a whirlpool. Gently pour the egg into the center of the whirlpool.
- Poach the egg for 3 minutes, then remove it with a slotted spoon. Repeat for the remaining eggs.
Assemble the Dish
- Mix the cooked spaghetti with the butter (it will melt), asparagus, and ham cubes.5 oz. ham cubes, ½ stick butter
- Divide the spaghetti onto plates. Place a poached egg on top of each serving.
- Sprinkle with parsley or other fresh herbs.½ oz. parsley
Notes
Nutrition
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