$25 Dinners: Lemon and Asparagus Pasta

With the weather warming up, you’ll likely be looking for lighter options for dinner. Consider using vegetables that are in-season—such as asparagus. Mix it into this super quick pasta dish that’s both healthy and delicious. You’ll need about 5 minutes of prep time to chop the veggies and about 14 minutes of cooking time.

Ingredients
1 lb fresh asparagus, cut into bite-size pieces
8 oz. whole wheat pasta
½ cup chopped tomatoes
1 cup fresh basil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp grated lemon zest
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice

1. Boil asparagus until tender (approximately 4 minutes). Remove from water with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as directed on the package (approximately 10 minutes).
3. Drain pasta and add to a bowl with the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine.
4. Enjoy!

*Makes 4 servings, about 300 calories per serving. Cost of meal is approximately $3.50 per serving.

*Adapted from a recipe in SELF magazine.