Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Recipe: Roasted Asparagus Penne With Parmesan Garlic Butter

Mmmm...enjoy the spring flavor of asparagus in this simple and tasty pasta dish. Dressed with a quick butter and garlic dressing to let the flavor of the oven-roasted asparagus shine through, this dish couldn't be simpler - or more delicious! Serve with a crisp white wine such as a Riesling or Pino Grigio.

Roasted Asparagus Penne With Parmesan Garlic Butter
(Serves 4 -6.)

Ingredients:

1 bunch fresh asparagus, cleaned and cut into 1 inch pieces
3 tsp olive oil
1 pkg (8 oz) penne pasta
1 Tbsp sesame seeds
2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped
salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Put a big pot of salted water on the stove, and bring to a boil.
  • While waiting for the water to come up to a boil, put asparagus on baking sheet, drizzle with the 3 tsp olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and use your hands to coat the asparagus pieces throughly.
  • Put the asparagus in preheated oven for 10 to 13 minutes or until just starting to get a few specks of golden brown - don't let them get too soft or turn dark brown.
  • During this time, cook the pasta until al dente; drain well, put back in the pot, cover, and keep warm.
  • Check the asparagus; it should be almost ready to come out.  But, just before you remove the asparagus, sprinkle the sesame seeds over and put back in the oven just for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until you can smell the sesame seeds; remove and set aside.
  • Get out a big serving bowl and put the butter and garlic in and smash together with a fork until smooth and garlic is incorporated, then add the Parmesan cheese and mix again until combined.  
  • Now pour the warm pasta into the bowl with the garlic-cheese-butter mixture and mix until pasta is coated, then pour the asparagus into the bowl, scraping in all the oil from the baking sheet, too.
  • Toss, sprinkle with chives, taste for seasonings, salt and pepper if necessary, and serve warm.

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