suleenelena
02-01-2006, 05:09 PM
This yummy baked gratin teams juicy asparagus tips with lean ham and ribbon pasta. The entire dish is smoothered in a cream cheese sauce.
Asparagus is low in fat and contains fibre, potassium and vitamins A,C and E.
- Use wholemeal pasta to add 1.5G FIBRE PER SERVING.
PREPARATION TIME 10 MINUTES
COOKING TIME 20 MINUTES.
Serves 4:
225g(80z)cooked pasta eg:fusille, spirali,penne etc)
500g fresh or frozen asparagus, thawed if frozen
50g(2oz)lean ham, cut into strips.
For the sauce
25(1oz) butter or block margarine
25g ' ' plain flour
450ml(3/4pint)semi- skimmed or skimmed milk
25(1oz) parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
pepper
25g cheddar cheese, grated
1)Preheat oven to 200c/400f /gas 6. Lightly grease a large oven proof dish. Mix together the pasta, asparagus and ham.
For the sauce, melt the fat in a pan. Gradually stir in the flour. Cook, stirring all the time, over a low heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Slowly add the milk. Beat until blended.
3)Bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring , for 3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat. Stir in parmesan cheese and seasoning.
4)Spoon a thin layer of sauce into the dish. Put the pasta mixture on top. Pour over the remaining sauce. scatter over the cheddar cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbling. serve.
Variation:- Replace ham with canned tuna or try adding chopped spring onions and stoned black olives for a change.
Tips:- Use a jug or a laddle to pour the sauce evenly over the pasta mixture.
Asparagus is low in fat and contains fibre, potassium and vitamins A,C and E.
- Use wholemeal pasta to add 1.5G FIBRE PER SERVING.
PREPARATION TIME 10 MINUTES
COOKING TIME 20 MINUTES.
Serves 4:
225g(80z)cooked pasta eg:fusille, spirali,penne etc)
500g fresh or frozen asparagus, thawed if frozen
50g(2oz)lean ham, cut into strips.
For the sauce
25(1oz) butter or block margarine
25g ' ' plain flour
450ml(3/4pint)semi- skimmed or skimmed milk
25(1oz) parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
pepper
25g cheddar cheese, grated
1)Preheat oven to 200c/400f /gas 6. Lightly grease a large oven proof dish. Mix together the pasta, asparagus and ham.
For the sauce, melt the fat in a pan. Gradually stir in the flour. Cook, stirring all the time, over a low heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Slowly add the milk. Beat until blended.
3)Bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring , for 3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat. Stir in parmesan cheese and seasoning.
4)Spoon a thin layer of sauce into the dish. Put the pasta mixture on top. Pour over the remaining sauce. scatter over the cheddar cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbling. serve.
Variation:- Replace ham with canned tuna or try adding chopped spring onions and stoned black olives for a change.
Tips:- Use a jug or a laddle to pour the sauce evenly over the pasta mixture.