Tagliatelle With Smoked Salmon

This quick-fix 1-dish meal is from the *Italian Cookbook 2* of the Australian Womens Weekly cookbook series, is definitely company-worthy & showcases 3 of my favorite ingredients - fresh asparagus, smoked salmon & leek. The sauce is rich & the dish follows the Italian tradition of a lrg portion of pasta that is lightly sauced & then served w/an Italian salad + garlic bread. (Time does not include time to cook the asparagus as cooking method is optional). *Enjoy* !

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 6 1-Dish Servings

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb fresh asparagus (cut in 1-in lengths)
• 2  ounces butter
• 1  small leek (sliced)
• 1  garlic clove (crushed, I use 2)
• 2  tablespoons brandy
• 2  cups  cream
• 1  teaspoon tomato paste (see note)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• 6 1⁄2 ounces smoked salmon (thinly sliced & cut in 1-in strips)
• 1  tablespoon fresh dill (chopped)
• 1  lb tagliatelle pasta noodles (may use fettucine)
• 3  teaspoons capers (drained)
•  salt & pepper (to taste)

Directions

1. Boil, steam or microwave asparagus pieces til tender, drain well & set aside.
2. Heat butter in a lrg skillet & add leek + garlic. Cook over med-heat (stirring) till leek is soft.
3. Reduce heat to simmer. Add brandy, cream, tomato paste & Tobasco sauce. Simmer gently (uncovered) for approx 5 min or till slightly thickened.
4. Add asparagus, salmon + dill. Stir to mix, season w/salt & pepper to taste & remove from heat.
5. While you prepare the sauce, add pasta to a lrg pan of boiling water. Boil (uncovered) till just tender & drain well.
6. Divide cooked pasta & sauce among 6 bowls or dinner plates & sprinkle ea with 1/2 tsp capers. Serve immediately.
7. NOTE: If you are not going to have a use for the remains of a can of tomato paste & are at all like me, leave it out & do what works for me. Seed & dice a lrg tomato & add to the sauce in place of & at the same time you would have added the tomato paste. :-).