Dinner

Asparagus Pasta is for Dinner.

Asparagus Pasta takes several minutes to prepare.

Asparagus Pasta takes several minutes to cook.

Asparagus Pasta makes 6 servings.

The ingredients for Asparagus Pasta are:

1 lb fresh asparagus, tough ends trimmed
1 tsp finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb whole wheat penne or pasta of choice
1/4 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano
1 lb. grilled chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks

Here is how you make Asparagus Pasta:

Cut asparagus into 1" pieces, reserving tips separately. Cook asparagus stems in 5 to 6 qrt boiling water with 2 Tbsp salt until very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a colander, reserving cooking water in pot, and rinse under cold water. Drain asparagus well and transfer to a food processor or blender.Drizzle the asparagus tips with EVOO and a bit of kosher salt and roast them for about 6-8 minutes at 450. Pur?e asparagus stems with zest, oil, and 1/2 cup asparagus cooking water. Transfer sauce to a 4-qrt saucepan.Cook pasta in boiling asparagus cooking water until it still offers considerable resistance to the tooth, around three fourths of the recommended cooking time. Reserve 2 cup cooking water and drain pasta.Add pasta, asparagus tips, and 1/2 cup reserved water to asparagus sauce and cook over high heat, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes, or until pasta is almost al dente and sauce coats pasta. Add more cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until sauce coats pasta but is a little loose (the cheese will thicken it slightly).Stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano, grilled chicken breasts, and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, until cheese is melted.Serve immediately.Number of Servings: 6Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user LACIE1221.

The nutritional information for Asparagus Pasta is:

• Servings Per Recipe: 6
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 437.7

• Total Fat: 12.5 g
• Cholesterol: 49.1 mg
• Sodium: 270.6 mg
• Total Carbs: 59.2 g
• Dietary Fiber: 9.4 g
• Protein: 30.4 g