PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS, RICOTTA AND LEMON

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Penne With Asparagus, Ricotta and Lemon image

This recipe is from the Reader's Digest, Magic foods for better blood sugar book. I don't eat a lot of pasta because let's face it, it's just not that healthy, or low fat. But there are times where I crave pasta and am always looking for a healthy, fast and tasty version to have on hand. This serves nice with a side salad and a piece of low glycemic bread such as pumpernickel or sourdough. Instead of butter, a low fat ricotta mixed with a tsp of olive oil and some chili flakes is a nice low glycemic spread. There is also a variation here for Penne with Spinach, Ricotta and Lemon, however I have not tried this variation.

Provided by kelly in TO

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 40m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
fresh ground black pepper
2 cups whole wheat penne (or spelt)
1 lb asparagus, stem ends snapped off, cut into 11/2 inch lengths (2 cups)

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of light salted water to a boil for cooking the penne.
  • Stir together the ricotta, 1/4 cup of the parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
  • Add the penne to the boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally for 4 minutes. Add the asparagus and cook until the penne is al dente (Do not overcook penne) and the asparagus is tender, 4 to 5 minutes longer. Reserve 1/3 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and asparagus and place in a large bowl.
  • Add 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the ricotta mixture, whisking until smooth. Toss the pasta with the ricotta sauce.
  • Pass the remaining parmesan separately.
  • One serving is 11/2 cups.
  • VARIATION: Penne with Spinach, Ricotta, and Lemon.
  • In step 3 omit the asparagus; cook the penne for 8 to10 minutes. While the penne is cooking, cook one 10 ounce (300-gram) package of frozen spinach according to package directions. In step 4 Toss the penne with the ricotta sauce and spinach.

RANIER JANE
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I love the pop of color that the asparagus adds to this dish. It's such a beautiful and delicious meal.


Nicklas Roetz
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This dish is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It's also really easy to make, so it's a great option for busy weeknights.


MD. RIAD.4
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I'm not a vegetarian, but I love this dish. The asparagus and ricotta are so flavorful that I don't even miss the meat.


Sammy Donavon
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I'm allergic to ricotta cheese, so I used cottage cheese instead. It worked just as well and the dish was still delicious.


Muhammad Khairul
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I added some grilled shrimp to this dish and it was amazing! The shrimp added a nice protein boost and the flavors all worked really well together.


Elizabeth Forkuoh
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This dish is a great way to use up leftover asparagus. I had some roasted asparagus from a previous meal and it worked perfectly in this recipe.


Joconitha Tsimane
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I had some trouble finding asparagus that was thin enough, so I used green beans instead. It turned out great!


Tyrik Smith
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I found this dish to be a bit bland. I think it needed more seasoning, maybe some garlic or red pepper flakes.


Annabelle Gordon
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This dish was a bit too rich for my taste, but I still enjoyed it. I think next time I'll use less ricotta cheese.


ItsHeatCat5 Jarrid K
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I'm not usually a fan of asparagus, but this dish changed my mind. The ricotta and lemon really mellowed out the asparagus flavor, and the pasta was cooked perfectly.


Kalembe Violah
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I made this dish for a dinner party and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved the delicate flavors and the beautiful presentation.


Kalyesubula sharif
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This is my new favorite pasta dish! The asparagus and ricotta are a perfect combination, and the lemon adds a lovely freshness. I highly recommend this recipe.


Collin Skinner
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I loved the simplicity of this dish. It was easy to make and the flavors were amazing. I especially loved the lemony sauce.


Tyler Casper
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This dish was absolutely delicious! The asparagus was perfectly cooked and the ricotta and lemon added a wonderful creaminess and brightness. I will definitely be making this again.