Kitchen InFerno: An Early Taste of Spring

WP_000658Healthy eating and college don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand, but knowing the right tricks can help turn eating right into a daily routine. Let Kiersten Ferno be your guide for navigating the health-food scene without taking a chunk out of your schedule. Welcome to the inFerno.

Once the middle of February hits, everyone seems ready for spring. I’ve been writing, and cooking, a lot about healthy comfort foods since that’s about all I want to eat when it’s 15 degrees. But, with a few spring-weather days interspersed between the harsher days, I’m hopeful that spring will be right around the corner.

This is one of the easiest pasta dishes I know. Even though it’s pasta, it tastes light and fresh! Whole-wheat spirals paired with some crisp, delicious veggies and shrimp. Add a hint of zingy lemon and salty Asiago cheese, and you’ve got a well-balanced meal that’s as delightful as those surprising, sunny, 60 degree days!

What you’ll need:
Makes 2 servings

1 small bundle of asparagus (look for the thinnest stalks – they’re crisp and sweet!)
½ small head of broccoli
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups whole wheat pasta (I used fusilli – cute spirals!)
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon butter
¾ cup white wine (doesn’t matter if it’s cooking wine or cheap boxed wine – we’re in college, right?!)
Juice of whole lemon
2 cups frozen shrimp
Zest of 1 lemon
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Grated Asiago cheese to serve
salt and pepper to taste

What to do:

1. To defrost shrimp, place in colander under running water for a couple minutes.

2. Break off bottoms of asparagus stems (the tan, tough end) and cut off base of broccoli. Roughly chop asparagus and broccoli.

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3. Sauté veggies in pan with olive oil. Hit with a dash of slat and pepper. (Don’t overcook – mushy veggies are the worst! It should only take a few minutes.)

4. Cook pasta to taste. (I prefer mine “al dente” – a little undercooked.) Drain pasta.

5. Put medium-sized pan on medium heat. Add garlic, butter, white wine, crushed red pepper flakes, pinch salt and pepper, and lemon juice. Let simmer for a few minutes then add shrimp. (Shrimp overcooks really easily! When it starts to turn pink, take pan off heat.)

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6. Add pasta and veggies to sauce, tossing gently to coat everything in sauce.

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7. Finish serving with lemon zest and a sprinkle of Asiago cheese!

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Tip from inside the inFerno: To easily juice a lemon, roll on cutting board to loosen juices, and slice in half and squeeze. (Make sure there are no seeds!)

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