Utah is still cold with snow on the ground. Sure, it is pretty, but come on, it is March. I am sooo ready for Spring! We have had a couple of nice “teaser” days, but the snow always comes back to haunt me. I just want Mr. Sun to stick around!
Since the weather isn’t cooperating, I turned to the kitchen for some help. I made my favorite spring time dish, Whole Wheat Lemon Pasta with Spinach and Roasted Asparagus. The flavors are light and fresh and make me think of sunny days.
I used whole wheat spaghetti, but any pasta will do. The sauce is really easy. I saute garlic, onions, red pepper flakes, and fresh spinach in olive oil and toss them with the warm pasta. To finish off the dish, I add lemon zest and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the pasta and mix. I love the refreshing and powerful flavor the lemon gives.
I served roasted asparagus on the side, I found it on sale for 88 cents a pound, yahoo! I didn’t do anything fancy, just a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh lemon juice. I finished everything off with a bit of Parmesan cheese. This was the perfect meal to chase away the winter blues.
Whole wheat pasta (any variety will work)
Olive oil
½ onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bunch of fresh spinach, cleaned and chopped
Red pepper flakes, just a quick shake
Salt and Pepper
Zest and juice of one large lemon
Parmesan cheese
1.Bring a big pot of water to boil. Add salt and cook pasta until al dente.
2. While the pasta is cooking, heat oil in a large saute pan. Add onions and cook until tender. Add garlic and red pepper flakes.
3. Add spinach and cook until it has cooked down. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Drain the pasta and pour it into a large serving bowl.
5. Toss the pasta with the spinach mixture.
6. Add lemon zest and lemon juice and mix well.
7. Top with fresh Parmesan cheese.
For the Asparagus:
1 bunch of fresh asparagus
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Fresh lemon juice
1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Trim the ends of the asparagus and place on a large baking sheet, lined with foil.
3. Drizzle asparagus lightly with olive oil.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Roast for 10-15 minutes in the oven. Stir them at least once.
6. Remove from oven and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the spears.
7. Serve with pasta dish above.
Oh my, such a DELECTABLE pasta dish!!
Hang in there with all the snow!!
Fabulous! Love the addition of great veggies (spinach AND asparagus). Hopefully it will warm up near you two soon. Have a good one
This sounds like a DELICIOUS combination! : )
We’ve been teased a couple days in Missouri, too but it’s back to being in the 20s again … let’s hope for some better weather soon!!
love roasted asparagus!
great pasta dish, looks delicious!
I hear you re. the cold and snow. It’s the same where I live too. This dish looks so yummy and fresh…I bet the asparagus pairs so nicely with the lemon pasta!
You’ve sold it to me! It was easy. The picture and the lemon with the pepper flakes!
Dee-lish!
Gimme anything with citrus flavours and you got me there!
A spring meal… Flavorful, refined and delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
What a perfect combination! I hope it warms up soon!
This looks and sounds great and looks so easy must try. Thanks for sharing Maria.
Your asparagus looks perfect! I wish the price was that good around here! It’s still $3 a lb! Boooo. Once it comes down I’m totally making this 🙂
Thanks everyone! I hope it warms up soon!
Stephchows-I hope you can find a deal on asparagus, it usually is on sale during the Spring months!
Looks like Spring on a plate
My kinda meal, for sure. Love simple lemon & garlic and what it does to pasta. Add a splash of white wine and it's even better! Yum!!
Love asparagus and whole wheat pasta even better.
RecipeGirl-I will have to try the wine next time around, thanks for the tip!
That’s a Whole Wheat pasta that even I would love! Looks great!!!
I *love* lemon pasta!!!
Looks like the perfect meal to warm you up so you can forget about all the snow.
Looks like an awesome meal! We had roasted asparagus for dinner last night too, so yummy.
What a healthy and delicious meal – YUM!
I am sooo ready for warmer weather. When I say warmer I mean anything above 30 is good with me.
I would love this tasty dish.
What a fabulous spring dish!
This is such a perfect meal during the week, very light, yet satisfying. And the best part is that doesn’t seem too difficult to make it.
Cheers,
elra
Sounds so good! I make a similar pasta, and add in shrimp as well. I’m with you – lets put an SOS out for Mr. Sun.
Oh what a perfect pasta dish. The flavors sound amazing…yum!!!
I’m so sorry you are still dealing with that darn snow!! Is that normal for this time of year? Spring is coming, I promise!!
Does that ever look good. I love pasta dishes and yours looks delicious…
What a lovely harbinger of spring. It’s probable been 20 years since I’ve seen asparagus at that price. I’ll wager you really enjoyed it. This looks delicious.
So simple but so delicious! Hope Spring finds you soon!
This looks perfect for a yummy dinner. I am so with you on the spring thing. If it snows one more time I think I am going to throw up! I am so ready for some sun. Great pictures, Maria!
Looks amazingly delicious! I am so ready for spring, too!!!
Oh, bring on the spring, this looks like something I would order at a restaurant!
What a good looking pasta!
I love me some pasta to chase the winter blues away.
This sounds absolutely so delicious! I love all the flavors going on in this dish! WINNER!!
Between you and Reeni, I’m dying for pasta tonight! And what’s better than homemade wheat pasta? Nothing!
I love asparagus… despite the extra aromatic urine! 🙂
I’d love to have that right now but I don’t feel like going to the store since I am coming down with something. Oh well. But I am having a big hankering for some whole wheat pasta in a light sauce and with some shrimp too 🙂
yum! i love asparagus, and the lemon/spinach combo sounds delicious, too!
I made pasta with asparagus the other night. Love it!
This is a health-conscientious dish…I guess you’re making up for all those yummy treats you posted!
Oh…this looks so yummy!
YUM!!! We love whole wheat pasta and asparagus!
This looks wonderful, I actually think by seeing everyone’s blogs using various veggies may just turn me into a liker of them.
Wow, this looks perfect! It gets me in the mood for spring, that’s for sure! I am going to do a sun dance for you.
Snow still?? Wow, I would be fed up too!
Looks yummy!
I can’t wait for spring and ASPARAGUS!!!
My kind of meal!
Asparagus certainly says spring to me. My mother says the last snow of winter falls on the tulips, so look for those tulip blossoms!
I too thought spring was here. My daffodils are out, my tulips are well on the way, now it’s freezing again.
This sounds like the perfect dish to greet the spring.
I love winter-blues-be-gone meals! This one seems perfect with that lemon flavor and asparagus side. Mmm, I hope your dish brings warm weather with it!
look at all that green! healthiest pasta dish ever. 🙂
Oooh, this dish looks so green and vibrant, it definitely makes me long for spring.
We had a couple teaser days last week, but it’s cold again. 🙁
Such a fabulous and delicious pasta dish!!
Rosie x
Yummy! I just bought some asparagus because I was craving roasted asparagus!
This looks simply delicious!! I LOVE Asparagus. 🙂
I love whole wheat pasta and lemon and this looks so healthy and good.
Dente.. is the best, I have a question, since pasta uses 100% duran wheat pasta, is there a large difference between that and whole wheat.. I know there is but just curious = ) Thanks darling..
Made this pasta tonight and OMG sooooo good!!!