A Few of My Favorite Things: Linguine with Asparagus and Prosciutto

Maria cheerfully sang in The Sound of Music, “these are a few of my favorite things…” and in this dish we have pasta, asparagus, and prosciutto - definitely a few of MY favorite things! In addition to being delicious, this is a pasta dish you don’t have to feel guilty about. There’s no heavy cream or red sauce to contend with that'll follow you around through the holidays and beyond. Just lovely linguine tossed with olive oil, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. It's also a great dish for Fall. I don't know about you but when the temperature starts to drop, I start to crave pasta. The prosciutto and asparagus work together so nicely too. The slightly sweet, salty flavor of the prosciutto contrasts beautifully with the color and crunch of the green asparagus. It is also, essentially, a one pot meal – less clean up for whomever's responsible for the “dish-doing” in your house - and the recipe can be easily doubled, in case you want to share with friends or have leftovers hanging around in the fridge. As an added bonus, it's also a cinch to make. The entire recipe is only 6 sentences long - another one of my favorite things.

As for wine, a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc would be great with this dish. Something with a lighter, crisper style to highlight the asparagus and lemon flavors yet enough body to complement the creaminess of the olive oil and Parmesan cheese. If you were in the mood for red wine, you might want to try a Dolcetto. This light and fruity red is from the Piedmont region in Italy. It is a great “everyday” wine and would be a nice alternative to white. So make it a date night at home or invite some friends over for a nice, light pre-holiday meal. The Linguine with Asparagus and Prosciutto will not disappoint. Buon appetito!