Low Fat Asparagus Italian Style Food

BAKED ASPARAGUS & CHEESE FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Coat a 10-inch pie pan or ceramic quiche dish with cooking spray. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, tapping out the excess.
• Snap tough ends off asparagus. Slice off the top 2 inches of the tips and reserve. Cut the stalks into 1/2-inch-long slices.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add water and the asparagus stalks to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until the asparagus is tender and the liquid has evaporated, about 7 minutes (the mixture should be very dry). Season with salt and pepper. Arrange the vegetables in an even layer in the prepared pan.
• Whisk eggs and egg whites in a large bowl. Add ricotta, parsley, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; whisk to blend. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables, gently shaking the pan to distribute. Scatter the reserved asparagus tips over the top and sprinkle with Gruyere.
• Bake the frittata until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

HEALTHY ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Place the asparagus in an 11x7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, vinegar and mustard. Pour over asparagus. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 12-18 minutes or until tender.

ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD WITH ITALIAN DRESSING

Steps:

• For the dressing: Whisk together all of the ingredients in a medium bowl until combined. Set aside.
• For the pasta salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, just until al dente. Add the asparagus and cook it with the pasta for 1 more minute. Drain the pasta and asparagus then rinse with cold water and drain thoroughly.
• Transfer the pasta and asparagus to a large bowl. Stir in the onions and tomatoes. Pour the dressing over the pasta, toss to combine, then cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to overnight. When ready to serve, stir in the Parmesan and enjoy cold or at room temperature.

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.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Add pasta to boiling water and cook for 7 minutes; add prepared vegetables to the pot and continue to cook for 3 more minutes, or until al dente.
• Drain.
• In the meantime prepare the sauce.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, or until tender.
• In a small mixing bowl combine flour and chicken broth; whisk until thoroughly incorporated.
• Add broth mixture to the onion mixture in the pan.
• Whisk in milk; continue to whisk constantly and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and cook for 1 more minute, or until thickened.
• Stir in the cream cheese; stir until melted.
• Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and remove from heat.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Add pasta and vegetables to the sauce; stir until completely combined.
• Serve.

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.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS WITH OLIVES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the asparagus, 1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper and cook, stirring, until the asparagus is bright green and crisp-tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the olives, basil and 1/4 teaspoon salt and toss well. Serve.

LOW FAT ASPARAGUS ITALIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Steam asparagus in non stick frying pan until just tender.
• Drain and lightly butter.
• Toss with Low Fat Italian dressing to coat.

SIRLOIN ITALIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Coat meat with flour. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add meat and onion; cook stirring occasionally, 4 minutes or until no longer pink.
• Stir in tomato paste, wine and ½ cup water; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 25 minutes or until meat is tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve over rice or pasta.

ASPARAGUS QUICHE (LOW-FAT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Remove pie crust from freezer.
• Place asparagus on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper and salt. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Cool asparagus to room temperature. Cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Beat eggs. Combine eggs with milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Mix in asparagus and 1/2 cup of cheese.
• Place pie crust on baking sheet. This will save your oven from an egg mess if anything spills!
• Pour mixture into pie crust. Sprinkle rest of cheese on top.
• Bake for 30-40min, until toothpick or knife comes out clean in center.

ASPARAGUS-MUSHROOM FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, ricotta cheese, lemon juice, salt and pepper. In a 10-in. ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add asparagus, onion, red pepper and mushrooms; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until onion and pepper are tender., Remove from heat; remove asparagus from skillet. Reserve eight spears; cut remaining asparagus into 2-in. pieces. Return cut asparagus to skillet; stir in egg mixture. Arrange reserved asparagus spears over eggs to resemble spokes of a wheel., Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until eggs are completely set. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut into wedges.

HEALTHY PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and put a steamer (or colander) over the water. Steam the beans, asparagus and peas until just tender, then set aside. Boil the pasta following pack instructions.
• Meanwhile, fry the leeks gently in the oil and butter for 5 mins or until soft. Add the fromage frais to the leeks and very gently warm through, stirring constantly to ensure it doesn't split. Add the herbs and steamed vegetables with a splash of pasta water to loosen.
• Drain the pasta and stir into the sauce. Adjust the seasoning, then serve scattered with the cheese and drizzled with a little extra olive oil.

LOW-FAT CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Take one asparagus spear, hold at both ends, and bend it until it breaks.
• Use the broken spear as a guide and cut the remaining spears to approximately the same length, discarding the large ends.
• Slice asparagus spears in 1 inch lengths.
• You should have about 2 cups of asparagus pieces.
• Cook the asparagus pieces in a small amount of boiling water for 10 minutes or until tender.
• Drain well.
• While asparagus cooks, place (unmelted) butter, flour, and garlic into a blender container.
• Top with cooked asparagus, then add all remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
• Pour into saucepan and heat gently until soup thickens.
• I like to use thinly sliced green onion tops, low-fat sour cream and a couple of croutons for a garnish.

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.