Let’s admit it, whole wheat pasta is misunderstood. It’s different from the white, semolina pasta — nuttier, denser and toastier — and delicious when allowed to shine in its own right.

A weeknight friendly take on classic pasta Alfredo, this one-pot dish is studded with vibrant green asparagus, and done in about as long as it takes to boil the water for the fettuccine.