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Penne with asparagus, ham, and basil

Name: Penne with asparagus, ham, and basil
Prep time: 7 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 8 oz uncooked whole wheat pasta penne variety (2 cups); 2 tsp olive oil; 1 large fresh tomato(es) coarsely chopped; 3 medium clove(s) garlic clove(s) thinly sliced; 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 pound(s) uncooked asparagus trimmed and cut into 2-inch lengths; 1 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth; 1 Tbsp lemon juice canned or bottled; 0.5 pound(s) lean ham cut into bite-size pieces; 0.25 cup(s) basil fresh, chopped; 3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Smartpoints value per serving

Total Time

27 min

Prep

7 min

Cook

20 min

Serves

Difficulty

Easy

Here's a hearty penne dish that comes together in less than half an hour and features hearty ham as well as fresh asparagus, tomatoes, and basil. The sauce also comes together thanks to the addition of reduced-sodium chicken broth and lemon juice, plus a touch of heat from crushed red pepper flakes. If you happen to have an herb garden—in a window box or outdoors—feel free to snip a handful of your favorite blend of herbs and toss into the skillet in step 3 to let it cook down ever so slightly. It'll add even more depth of flavor to an already delicious, easy pasta recipe.

Ingredients

uncooked whole wheat pasta

8 oz, penne variety (2 cups)

olive oil

2 tsp

fresh tomato(es)

1 large, coarsely chopped

garlic clove(s)

3 medium clove(s), thinly sliced

red pepper flakes

¼ tsp

uncooked asparagus

1 pound(s), trimmed and cut into 2-inch lengths

reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 cup(s)

lemon juice canned or bottled

1 Tbsp

lean ham

½ pound(s), cut into bite-size pieces

basil

¼ cup(s), fresh, chopped

grated Parmesan cheese

3 Tbsp

Instructions

Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, omitting the salt if desired; drain.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tomato, garlic, and red pepper flakes; cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato is softened, about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus, broth, and lemon juice; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the asparagus is tender, about 3 minutes longer.
Add the pasta, ham, basil, and Parmesan to the skillet; toss to combine. Yields about 13/4 cups per serving.

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