Low Fat Asparagus Italian Style Food

BAKED ASPARAGUS ITALIAN STYLE (ASPARAGI AL FORNO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
• Clean the asparagus and trim off the woody ends if necessary.
• Place asparagus in a steamer (or in a pan of lightly salted water) and steam/cook for 8 minutes.
• Be sure not to over cook and make asparagus limpy.
• Place asparagus in a buttered, oven tolerant dish or pan.
• Season with pinch of salt and black pepper.
• Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the top and sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano.
• Bake in preheated oven for about 6-7 minutes until golden brown.
• Enjoy-- mmmmmmm.

LOW CALORIE CHEESY ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Place asparagus pieces in small microwave-safe covered casserole dish. Do not add water.
• Toss with seasonings.
• Microwave 3 minutes.
• Drain, if excess liquid has cooked out of asparagus.
• Top with cheese.
• Stir to incorporate cheese.

ASPARAGUS WITH LOW FAT ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, mayonnaise, orange juice, orange peel, and cayenne. Let chill for 2 hours in refrigerator.
• Soak asparagus in water for 10 minutes. Break off woody ends (ends can be used to make a vegetable stock). Purists scrape off the bud triangles on the stalk (I am not a purist.).
• Set a round wire cooling rack (for cake pans or cookies) in a large frying pan. Pour water up to 1/4-inch below the cooling rack. Place asparagus on top of cooling rack. If necessary, form a second layer at a 90-degree angle to the first layer. Cover.
• Heat frying pan on medium-high heat to steam asparagus for 7 minutes.
• Place steamed asparagus spears on plates and top with a dollop of orange sauce. Garnish each serving with 2 half moons of orange slices.

ASPARAGUS WITH GREMOLATA, LEMON AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Once you have finely chopped the garlic, parsley and lemon zest, chop them together on a cutting board until well combined. (This mixture is the gremolata.) Transfer to a bowl. Warm a serving platter.
• Steam or boil the asparagus in salted water until tender, four to five minutes. Remove from the heat, and toss with the gremolata. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix together the lemon juice and olive oil, and drizzle over the asparagus. Serve hot or warm.

TUSCAN-STYLE ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Place the asparagus, tomatoes and pine nuts on a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Mix 2 tablespoons oil, garlic, salt and pepper; add to asparagus and toss to coat. , Bake 15-20 minutes or just until asparagus is tender. Drizzle with remaining oil and the lemon juice; sprinkle with cheese and lemon aest. Toss to combine.

LOW FAT CHEESE AND ASPARAGUS SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 175C/350°F.
• Steam the asparagus in a metal steamer over boiling water for 5-6 minutes. Drain. Combine the asparagus with the eggs, Swiss.
• cheese, oil, and Parmesan cheese.
• Combine the cornstarch or.
• arrowroot powder with the chicken broth and stir until smooth.
• Add to the asparagus mixture.
• Fold in the beaten egg whites until they disappear.
• Pour the mixture into a greased souffle dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until puffed and firm.
• Serve immediately.

APRICOT-GLAZED ROASTED ASPARAGUS (LOW FAT)

Steps:

• Rinse spears under cold water then pat dry with paper towels.
• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Grease a large baking sheet.
• In a small bowl combine the apricot preserves with soy sauce, garlic powder and salt; pour over the asparagus on the baking sheet and toss using hands to coat with the mixture.
• Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the asparagus is crisp-tender.
• Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.

LOW CALORIE SHRIMP ASPARAGUS PENNE WITH RED PEPPER CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preparing Penne:.
• In a large stockpot, add 4 quarts of water and 1 tbsp crushed red pepper and bring to a boil.
• Add the 16oz package of penne rigate and stir every 2-3 minutes, maintaining a rolling boil. After approximately 14 minutes (time may vary slightly depending on brand of pasta) drain pasta and rinse in cold water to keep the pasta from cooking further.
• Let pasta sit for 5 minutes after the rinse, and the starchiness will come back to the surface of the pasta, allowing the sauce to stick to each noodle.
• Red Pepper and Tomato Cream Sauce:.
• Dice red bell pepper and saute in a small skillet until it begins to soften.
• Add fresh sliced mushrooms and saute for an additional 3 minutes.
• Blanch chopped asparagus in a pan with 2 cups of water for 4 minutes, then drain.
• Season shrimp with creole seasoning and fry in a large skillet.
• Add alfredo sauces, shrimp, pepper-mushroom mixture, italian seasoning, tomato sauce, and asparagus to a sauce pan, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and add penne.