Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

1 lb. spaghetti

2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 garlic cloves, smashed

4 3"-long strips lemon zest

½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

8 large basil leaves

2 lemons, halved

2 oz. Parmesan, finely grated (about 1 cup), plus more for serving

1 lb asparagus

Directions:

1. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1½ cups pasta cooking liquid.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high until shimmering add asparagus, season with salt, and cook, stirring often, until just beginning to take on color, about 1 minute. Add garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and let sit until pasta is done.

3. Add pasta and basil to the pot with garlic oil mixture and return to medium-high heat. Squeeze juice from both lemons into the pot and add 2 oz. Parmesan and 1 cup reserved pasta cooking liquid. Cook, tossing vigorously, and adding more pasta cooking liquid if needed until sauce is creamy and emulsified and pasta is coated for about 1 minute. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Remove and discard garlic.

4. Divide pasta among bowls, placing a lemon strip in each. Top with more basil and parmesan.