Penne Spinach Asparagus And Cashew Salad Recipes

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES (SPRING)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.

PENNE WITH SPINACH SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the penne and cook until it is tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes.
• Mince the garlic in a food processor. Add the goat cheese, cream cheese, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, and half of the spinach leaves. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Set the cheese and spinach mixture aside.
• Meanwhile, place the remaining spinach leaves in a large bowl.
• Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Spoon the pasta atop the spinach leaves in the bowl. Scrape the cheese and spinach mixture over the pasta mixture and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the Parmesan over and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND CASHEWS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and sesame oil in a wok over low to medium heat. Add ginger, and stir-fry until slightly brown. Add asparagus, and stir-fry for a few minutes before adding soy sauce and cashews. Cook until asparagus is tender but still crisp and bright green, stirring frequently.

PENNE WITH RICOTTA AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with enough salt that the water tastes salty. Add the asparagus and cook until tender but still firm, about 4 minutes. Lift out the asparagus with tongs and transfer to an ice bath. Cut into 1/8 -inch slices, leaving tips intact.
• Bring the water back to a boil and add the penne.
• Meanwhile, rub a large serving bowl with the garlic. Add the ricotta, olive oil and 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water; blend. When the pasta is done, drain it (reserving some water) and add it to the ricotta mixture. Top with the asparagus and half the Parmesan cheese, then fold everything together. Season to taste, adding some reserved pasta water if needed. Divide among 4 shallow bowls and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

WARM ASPARAGUS SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle with salt. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring every 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain., In a blender, combine the onions, vinegar and soy sauce; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add the remaining oil in a steady steam., In a large salad bowl, combine the pasta, spinach and asparagus. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle with cashews and cheese.

SPINACH PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
• In a large bowl, combine the pasta, spinach, cheese, red onion and olives.
• Whisk together the salad dressing, garlic, lemon juice, garlic salt and pepper. Pour over salad and toss. Refrigerate for 2 hours and serve chilled.

PENNE, SPINACH, ASPARAGUS AND CASHEW SALAD

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 3 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to small bowl. Cool.
• Add pasta to same pot and cook until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain well.
• Transfer pasta to very large bowl.
• Toss with 1 tablespoon oil. Cool.
• Blend cup oil, green onions, vinegar and soy sauce in blender until smooth, about 2 minutes. (Asparagus, pasta and dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.)
• Pour dressing over pasta.
• Add asparagus, spinach and cashews; toss to coat.
• Season with salt and pepper.

ASPARAGUS-SPINACH PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle with salt. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring after 5 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain., For dressing, combine onions, vinegar and soy sauce in a blender; cover and process. While processing, gradually add the remaining oil in a steady steam., In a large salad bowl, combine pasta, spinach and asparagus. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle with cashews and Parmesan cheese.

PENNE, SPINACH, ASPARAGUS AND CASHEW SALAD

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to small bowl. Cool. Add pasta to same pot and cook until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain well. Transfer pasta to very large bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon oil. Cool.
• Blend cup oil, green onions, vinegar and soy sauce in blender until smooth, about 2 minutes. (Asparagus, pasta and dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.) Pour dressing over pasta. Add asparagus, spinach and cashews; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

SAUTEED SESAME SPINACH WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat sesame oil, olive oil, and garlic in a medium skillet over high heat until garlic starts to brown, about 1 minute. Add pepper, mushrooms, and asparagus. Cook, stirring, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Add spinach and continue cooking until slightly wilted. Sprinkle vegetables with sesame seeds and serve immediately, garnished with lime wedges.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Melt butter with oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add asparagus and sauté 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to bowl. Add onions and garlic to Dutch oven. Sauté until light golden, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juices, oregano and crushed red pepper. Bring sauce to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon and stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Return asparagus to sauce. Cook until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add penne and 1/2 cup cheese. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer pasta to large bowl. Serve, passing additional cheese separately.

SPINACH CASHEW SALAD

Steps:

• Chop bacon and fry until crisp.
• Drain on paper towel to remove as much excess fat as possible. Wash spinach and lettuce then tear leaves into bite size pieces.
• Place in Salad bowl.
• Add cashew pieces, grated cheese, and crumbled bacon.
• Toss when ready to serve. Serve with poppy seed dressing.
• NOTE: Fat grams may be reduced to 1 gram per serving if bacon and cashews are eliminated.
• Each add approximately 3 grams of fat per serving.
• Poppy Seed Dressing: Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
• Alternate method: finely grate onion, add remaining ingredients and beat with mixer until well blended.