Pasta with Ricotta & Summer Vegetables

Getting in your daily servings of vegetables is easy when you feature this veggie-loaded pasta recipe. It's full of broccoli, asparagus, and tomatoes and a creamy ricotta-tomato sauce--you'll be amazed that it takes just 25 minutes to prepare.

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Prep Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
25 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces penne or ziti

  • 2 ½ cups fresh broccoli florets

  • 1 ½ cups 1-inch pieces fresh asparagus or green beans

  • 2 large ripe tomatoes

  • 1 cup light ricotta cheese

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil

  • 4 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

  • 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1 leaf Basil sprigs

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli and asparagus (or green beans) during the last 3 minutes of cooking.

  2. Meanwhile, place a fine strainer over a large bowl. Cut tomatoes in half; squeeze seeds and juice into the strainer. With the back of a spoon, push the seeds to extract the juice; discard the seeds. Add ricotta cheese, basil, thyme, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper to the tomato juice; mix well. Chop the tomatoes; stir into the ricotta mixture.

  3. Drain the pasta and vegetables; add to the bowl and toss well. Sprinkle with Parmesan. If desired, garnish with basil sprigs.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

368 Calories
8g Fat
57g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 368
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 57g 21%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Protein 19g 38%
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 393mg 17%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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