This pesto pasta is bright, fresh, and full of flavor. Tossed with crispy prosciutto, asparagus and finished with plenty of herbs and Parmesan, it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing dish that works just as well for casual weeknights as it does for relaxed summer entertaining.

Below you’ll find the full recipe with easy steps and fresh ingredients that come together quickly. It’s a flexible dish you can customize to taste, making it perfect for both weeknight dinners and easy entertaining.

Penne and Asparagus with Arugula Pesto Sauce and Crispy Prosciutto

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 lb penne

1 package prosciutto, sliced and torn into small pieces

1 bunch asparagus, sliced

Oil for sautéing

Arugula Pesto

2 cups arugula

1/4 cup fresh basil

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup pine nuts

1 clove garlic

Salt

Pepper

Directions

Combine all the ingredients for the arugula pesto sauce in a food processor. Adjust seasonings accordingly. Set pesto sauce aside for later. In a sauté pan over medium-high heat add in oil. Add sliced asparagus to the pan and cook for about 10 minutes or until soft. Take asparagus off the heat and set aside in a bowl. In the same sauté pan add in prosciutto. Cook prosciutto until it gets nice and crispy. Cook penne pasta according to package. Add penne and asparagus to a sauté pan along with the arugula pesto. Stir until pasta is coated in pesto sauce. Lastly, sprinkle crispy prosciutto on top of pasta. Serve in a large pasta bowl and enjoy!