This luxurious creamy saffron pasta recipe, made with tagliatelle, saffron cream sauce and asparagus, is perfect for a special occasion. It is quick, easy to make and you can customise the veggies in this pasta dish to make it your own!
Table of contents
For a decadent pasta recipe with amazing flavor, look no further than this Saffron Pasta.
Garlic and asparagus are cooked in butter, then tossed through cooked pasta and a silky saffron sauce.
The creamy sauce is made with single or heavy cream and is infused with the flavor of saffron and garlic.
Prepare this One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta, Masala Pasta or Air Fryer Pasta Bake for a perfect weeknight dinner.
Creamy Saffron Pasta Ingredients
All ingredients are available in local grocery stores.
Pasta - you can pick any pasta shape but I love long pasta with white cream sauces. I've used tagliatelle, you could try pappardelle.
Creamy saffron sauce - made with garlic, cream and high-quality saffron threads.
Asparagus - I love British asparagus when in season. I chop it into 2 inch pieces. You can use other vegetables such as trimmed green beans or courgettes (zucchini).
Garlic - you need fresh minced garlic for the best results. Garlic powder is not a good substitute here.
Salt and black pepper
Olive oil or butter
Optional additions:
Lemon zest
You may wish to add in cherry tomatoes
Vegan Saffron Pasta
You can make this recipe dairy-free by using plant based butter and cream for the sauce.
For an option without cream, use coconut milk.
How to make Saffron Pasta
Prepare the saffron sauce and set aside.
Add the dried pasta to a large pot of salted water and cook to packet instructions or until al dente.
Meanwhile, in a sauté pan, heat oil or butter on medium heat and add the minced garlic. After a few seconds, tip in the asparagus and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Add the saffron sauce and simmer on a low heat for a minute.
Tip in the cooked pasta, season with salt and pepper and stir well.
Serve immediately.
As the pasta cools, it will significantly thicken so reserve a cup of pasta water and stir through as needed.
Serving Suggestion
For a complete delicious meal, serve with a side salad such as Zucchini Ribbon Salad. A simple green salad would also go good with saffron pasta.
Pair with a white wine or non alcoholic sparkling wine.
Serve for date night, a dinner party, Valentine's Day or Mother's Day.
Storage
Store leftover pasta that has reached room temperature in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheat in the microwave or on the stove on low heat.
I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
Other saffron recipes
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Creamy Saffron Pasta
Equipment
- 1 pan
Ingredients
- 2 cup pasta dried
- 1 cup asparagus cut into 2 inch pieces
- 2 cup creamy saffron sauce
- 2 tablespoon garlic minced
- salt to taste
- pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the saffron sauce and set aside.
- Add the dried pasta to a large pot of salted water and cook to packet instructions or until al dente.
- Meanwhile, in a sauté pan, heat oil or butter on medium heat and add the minced garlic. After a few seconds, tip in the asparagus and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the saffron sauce and simmer on a low heat.
- Tip in the cooked pasta, season with salt and pepper and stir well.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Share on Facebook Pin This RecipeNote:- This post was originally posted on May 18th 2017 but I have updated the post since with helpful content.
Priya Suresh says
Never tried adding saffron in pasta, simply awesome and looks very colourful.
Unknown says
Look at that beauty! Love the colours and the recipe!
sushma says
Pasta looks so delicious. Adding saffron gives the dish a unique flavor and color
Pavani says
That is such an exotic looking dish Jagruthi. Saffron is a great addition to pasta sauce -- never tried it before.
Indfused says
Love the color the saffron has lent to the pasta dish. Gorgeous photos Jagruti!
Ginny McMeans says
That is a beautiful pasta dish. Then saffron really adds a lot of flavor too. Thank you!
Unknown says
Love saffron and coconut milk in dishes, and love pasta. I'm not a big fan of asparagus, but your pictures make me want to try it anyway. Nice Photos!!
Christina | Christina's Cucina says
I love Zurich! This sounds like a fabulous recipe especially with the saffron! Yum!
Unknown says
Those flavors sound wonderful, and those colors are amazing!
Beth says
What a gorgeous dish of pasta! The saffron makes it absolutely glow! Thanks for the inspiration!
Charl says
Saffron and coconut milk, two of my favourite ingredients - instant hit!
Lisa says
Wow! I love cooking with saffron -- but I've never used it with coconut before. Can you still taste the saffron? I'd think it might overpower the subtle taste. It looks beautiful!
Monica says
This sounds so tasty and special for a relatively simple meal! Makes me wish asparagus season were longer where I live - maybe I will swap green beans or similar!
Jen says
This looks delicious! I don't use saffron very often - almost never actually - but this is an easy way to incorporate it. Yum!
Corina says
I love the way the saffron has given the pasta such a beautiful yellow colour! It looks like a lovely vegan meal and healthy too.
Hayley says
@Corina, thank you!