Healthy Primavera Pasta

Celebrate spring with farm-fresh foods that usher in the season — asparagus, peas, and watercress. They’re low in calories, fresh in flavor, and the perfect way to energize you for warmer weather. Try pasta dishes like this deliciously creamy yet light pasta primavera.

Asparagus is the quintessential spring veggie—high in iron, folate, and vitamins K and A, quick to cook and easy to pair with flavorful ingredients such as Parmesan. Peas are high in fiber, vitamin C, K, and B vitamins, and are easy to tuck into pasta dishes.

Precook 8 ounces of whole-wheat spaghetti and set aside. Warm a large skillet with 1 tablespoon healthy cooking oil like canola or olive oil, then add the peas, chopped asparagus, and a handful of watercress, along with a pinch of salt and cayenne. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until the vegetables are soft, then toss with the pasta. Add 1 tablespoon of cream cheese, ? cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt, and a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan and serve.

Now you’ve got the perfect dish to stoke your spring fever the healthy way.