Low Fat Asparagus Italian Style Recipes

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

LOW FAT CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Blanch asparagus for 3 minutes and cool in ice water. Set aside.
• Sautee leeks in butter until soft. Add potato, bay leaf and stock. Bring to the boil and cook for 10 minutes or until potato is just soft. Add asparagus, cook for another 10-15 minutes. Remove bay leaf, puree in blender in 2 cup batches and force through mesh strainer if desired.
• Return soup to heat and gradually add in milk and cream. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serves 6-8.

ASPARAGUS SALAD, ITALIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Cut off the woodsy bottoms of the asparagus spears; discard. Cut off the flower ends and set aside.
• Use a vegetable peeler to remove the dark green outer skin of each spear; you should get three or four ribbons from each one. Set aside. Cut the remaining stalks crosswise into 1/4-inch rounds.
• Combine ribbons, sliced rounds and tips in a large bowl. Drizzle asparagus with oil, then sprinkle with lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, then top with Parmesan.

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.

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.