This spaghetti with kale and asparagus is fresh and vibrant with chilli and fresh lemon. It's a super-quick veg-packed meal that comes together in ten minutes.
vegan pasta
This spaghetti with kale and asparagus is one of those meals that you can have up your sleeve to throw together at the last minute.
It's faster than a microwave meal, filling and packed with vegetables.
With minimal prep, you can have dinner on the table in ten minutes, without compromising on flavour.
Plus, you can adapt the green veggies to what's in season, or what you have in your fridge or freezer.
Spinach, spring greens or watercress would all work well.
Frozen veg
For this recipe, I used frozen chopped kale, frozen asparagus, frozen chopped garlic and frozen chopped chilli. They're just so handy when fresh veggies aren't available.
I added spelt spaghetti and half a lemon for a super-quick, healthy midweek meal.
You can easily substitute fresh ingredients for any of the frozen ones.
There are a few ingredients that I always have in my freezer: chopped garlic, chopped spinach and peeled bananas (for my morning smoothies).
They make life easier and mean that I can throw meals together quickly, even when I think I don't have any food in the house.
Spaghetti with Kale, Asparagus, Chilli and Lemon
Ingredients
- 4 oz (100g) spaghetti
- 2 cups kale chopped
- 8 spears of asparagus fresh or frozen
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon chopped red chilli or to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- juice of ½ a lemon
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Put a pan of water on to boil and cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Steam the asparagus in a colander over the pasta for a few minutes until cooked, then remove and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- In a frying pan, heat the oil over a medium heat then add the garlic and chilli and cook for a minute, then add the kale and saute for a few minutes until cooked through. If using frozen kale, ensure it is all thawed.
- Add the cooked spaghetti to a serving dish with the kale and asparagus, drizzle with the lemon juice, olive oil and lemon zest and toss all ingredients together and season.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Tom
Nice recipe Kate. So easy. I used fresh kale and asparagus, but good to know frozen work too. Simple and delicious.
Raschell
This looks wonderful and I just happened to have all the ingredients too! A delicious recipe.
Elizabeth
Oh my goodness this sounds AMAZING and so simple too! Thank you for sharing with the no waste food challenge 🙂
Chris @thinlyspread
I had no idea you could get frozen kale! How fab and brilliant for suppers in a hurry (with 4 kids all arriving home at different times this is essential!), I'll be popping to Iceland ASAP!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
Love the look of this! You really can't beat a super quick and easy pasta dish, especially when it's as flavourful as this. Sounds yummy! I definitely need to try the frozen kale, what a brilliant idea.
Lucie Bright (@BCTinyKitchen)
Your photography is gorgeous! This dish looks delicious and super simple.
fabfood4all
This looks totally delicious, love all the flavours here Katherine. I haven't seen frozen kale before so will look out for that! Thanks for entering #CreditCrunchMunch this month:-)
Sarah | Well and Full
I love cooking with frozen foods! It's so cost-effective, and everything lasts so long in the freezer! 😀
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
Loving the look of this fresh pasta dish.
Chris @ Simple Food 365
I love light dishes like this that are so packed with flavors! Looks great.
Kate Hackworthy
Thanks Chris, sometimes the simplest dishes are the best 🙂
Ali @ Home & Plate
What a healthy way to eat your spaghetti. I think the addition of the chillis make for a delicious dish with a little heat.
Kate Hackworthy
I love the chilli too, Ali. Just a little to give it some pizazz 🙂
Christie
Spring in a bowl. That is what I think of with this recipe. So many delicious and healthy vegetables and my favorite, spaghetti.
Kate Hackworthy
It is! It's this time of year when you start to crave lighter dishes and summer flavours, isn't it?
Bobbi Renee Hass-Burleson
Oh YUM!!! I love everything about this dish!
Coriander Queen
What a fab quick, easy and healthy recipe! I love using frozen vegetables - always have frozen spinach and peppers in my freezer! Gorgeous photos too!
Leigh Travers
This is so my type of dish! YUMMY. I'll definitely be trying this out at home.
Ashleigh
I love the entire ingredients so I am going to have to give this a try! Can't wait 🙂
Ashleigh
recipesfromapantry
Oh, I can get behind a big platefull of this Kate. Plus I ws in iceland the other day and was so amazed by the range of stuff the had in the frozen section.
choclette
Woohoo, frozen asparagus? Iceland here I come. Your spaghetti dish sounds wonderful and perfect for a meal when you're super hungry or in a rush.
Kate Hackworthy
Thanks Choclette - I love these sorts of fast meals that are super healthy! It's so quick with frozen foods.
Debbie Skerten
Sounds and looks wonderful. This is my hubby's and my kind of food.
Foodie Quine (@foodiequine)
Loving the sound of this! I bought both Asparagus and Kale from Iceland last weekend and will definitely be trying this recipe out.
Kate Hackworthy
I know! They have way more than I had expected!
Cathy @ Planet Veggie
10 minutes you say? Just my kind of meal!
Kate Hackworthy
I know! I love cooking, but sometimes I simply don't have the time. This is faster than most meals, and it's healthy too. Perfect.
Sarah
Oh neat! I didn't know a store like that existed. I love frozen produce because I always seem to let my fresh ones spoil. Your recipe looks really great 🙂
Kate Hackworthy
Frozen veggies and fruit are so convenient. Plus, they're picked at their best so you always get nice ones 🙂
Tamara
This pasta dish looks healthy, quick, and delicious... perfect for a weeknight! I love the improved quality of frozen foods and their availability, and the Iceland product looks like it would work well.
Kate Hackworthy
It does. I like how it's frozen right away, rather than losing it's goodness as it sits on supermarket shelves like fresh does. And now i have a constant supply in the freezer.
ttyabiku
I love how quick and simple this looks. Frozen veggies are so convenient. I don't think I've ever tried frozen kale though. I'll have to grab some the next time I see it so I can give this a try!
Kate Hackworthy
Sometimes you just need quick and simple meals so you don't reach for unhealthy, processed food. Frozen kale is soooo perfect.
foodhuntersguide
This is my kind of delicious
Kate Hackworthy
Thanks! It's so easy so we've made it quite a few times now. Such a quick go-to meal on a busy weeknight.
Emily
Love asparagus and lemon together. Iceland doing frozen kale now is fab! x
Kate Hackworthy
I know!! It's a revelation. They need a big ol sign in the window to let everyone know they have frozen kale 🙂
Garlic + Zest
This looks so good to me - all of my favorite things in one dish! I'm bookmarking this one!
Kate Hackworthy
I hope you like it! Come back and let me know.
Rhian Westbury
I don't really put kale in a lot of things because I'm unsure of the taste but this sounds nice x
Kate Hackworthy
I really like kale, it's not too strong so this sort of dish is a perfect way to get to know the taste of it 🙂
Joanne Mallon (@joannemallon)
Oh that looks so nice, and so easy to make. Will have to take a look in Iceland. I use a lot of frozen fruit and veg to make smoothies in my Nutribullet.
Kate Hackworthy
Frozen fruits and veggies are perfect for smoothies - they're always in perfect condition!