Multi-Grain Pasta Dish with Asparagus & Spinach

A Quick, Easy & Healthy Pasta Dinner with Vegetables & Herbs

Dec 5, 2008 Barbara Shema

Healthy dinner with multi-grain pasta, asparagus and spinach is quick and easy to make in 30 minutes. Using garlic, shallots and herbs are healthy ways to add flavor.

Eating "healthy" doesn't have to be dull or laborious. Healthy dinners that are simple and easy to prepare using whole grains, vegetables, olive oil, herbs & spices with minimal salt can be something that is good for everyone and delicious.

Anyone who has been advised to alter their diet in order to be healthier must take a look at what they've been consuming. Some questions to ask:

• What kind of cooking oil is being used in food preparation?
• Are multi-grains, fruits and vegetables part of the daily menu?
• Is there too much salt in the preparation of food, or applied afterward?
• Are there foods with high saturated fat content?

Recipe for Multi Grain Penne Pasta with Asparagus & Spinach

The following recipe is a quick and easy al fresco pasta dish that can be completed in 30 minutes…and tastes great! In the time it takes to cook the pasta, the al fresco vegetables will be ready.

Ingredients

• 1/4 C or less pignoli or pine nuts toasted
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 1 shallot chopped
• 1/2 t dried oregano
• 1/2 t dried basil
• 1/4 C extra virgin olive oil
• 12 stalks young asparagus chopped in 1/2" pieces
• 1/2 package fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 box multi-grain penne pasta
• pecorino romano cheese grated
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Bring a pot of water to a boil and add pasta....complete the following while pasta is cooking:

1. Toast pignoli or pine nuts in large teflon fry pan over medium-high heat (careful not to burn)
2. Reduce heat and add olive oil, garlic and shallot and lightly saute (stirring to prevent burning)
3. Sprinkle oregano and basil over mixture and stir
4. Add one or two ladles of the pasta water
5. Add asparagus and cook for 1-2 min
6. Add spinach and cook for 1 min or less until slightly wilted
7. Drain pasta or scoop out pasta from water and add to mixture
8. Stir mixture over the pasta in the frying pan
9. Add some grated cheese, salt and pepper and stir
10. Cook for an additional 1-2 min and sprinkle lightly with olive oil
11. Serve with grated cheese

Serves 2-3 people

Multi-Grain Pasta Good for Health

This pasta dish is full of flavor and easy to make. The multi-grain pasta has a slightly different texture than regular pasta, but when cooked al dente, it is particularly pleasing. In addition to semolina, multi-grain pasta contains grain and legume flour blend of lentils, chickpeas, egg whites, spelt, barley, flaxseed, oat fiber & oats.

Variations to Healthy Pasta Recipe

This recipe calls for asparagus and spinach, but it's a great recipe for using whatever vegetables that are available from the garden, farm market or grocer.

Other vegetable combination suggestions are:

• red and yellow bell peppers and broccoli
• chopped celery and very thin slices of carrot
• green beans and peas

When thinking of healthy meals, it's wise to use multi-grains, fresh vegetables, olive oil, herbs & spices for flavor, with very moderate amounts of salt and cheese. Pasta Puttanesca is another easy to prepare meal using ingredients available in the pantry.

The copyright of the article Multi-Grain Pasta Dish with Asparagus & Spinach in Healthy Cooking is owned by Barbara Shema. Permission to republish Multi-Grain Pasta Dish with Asparagus & Spinach in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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