Healthy Spring Recipe – Asparagus with Lemon Sauce

Springtime is the perfect season to eat light – and healthy! Try this crowd-pleasing, tasty dish at your next get-together:

Asparagus with Lemon Sauce

Ingredients

• 20 medium asparagus spears, rinsed and trimmed
• 1 fresh lemon, rinsed (for peel and juice)
• 2 Tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/16 tsp salt

Preparation

• Place 1 inch of water in a 4-quart pot with a lid.
• Place a steamer basket inside the pot, and add asparagus.
• Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium. Cook for 5-10 minutes, until asparagus is easily pierced with a sharp knife. Do not overcook.
• While the asparagus cooks, grate the lemon zest into a small bowl.
• Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press out extra juice and remove pits.
• Add mayonnaise, parsley, pepper and salt. Stir well. Set aside.
• When the asparagus is tender, remove the pot from the heat.
• Place asparagus spears in a serving bowl.
• Drizzle the lemon sauce evenly over the asparagus (about 1.5 tsp per portion) and serve.

*Alternate option: Roast the asparagus at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes (rather than steaming) for a different flavor and texture.

Nutritional information – per serving

• 39 calories
• 0 g total fat
• 0 mg cholesterol
• 107 mg sodium
• 2 g protein
• 7 g carbohydrates
• 2 g fiber

Serves 4

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Recipes courtesy National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

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