Dinner for 8

Creamy Pasta Primavera

Name: Creamy Pasta Primavera
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 8 oz asparagus; 4 oz green beans; 1/4 cup frozen baby peas; 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 4 cloves garlic; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 6 oz button mushrooms; 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes; 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 3 tbsp water; 1 lb penne; 4 tbsp butter; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest; 1 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil; 1/3 cup pine nuts

$8.30for 460 minServes 8

Penne cooks with vegetables, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, cream, cheese, herbs, and toasted pine nuts for a rich primavera dinner.

Photo: foodiecrush.com

What it costs

Pick your city to see which ingredients are on sale

Ingredient	Amount	Cost
	Asparagus, 0.5 lb$3.49/lb typical	0.5 lb	$1.75Typical price
	Green beans, 0.25 lb$2.49/lb typical	0.25 lb	$0.62Typical price
	Frozen vegetables, 1.25 oz$0.10/oz typical	1.25 oz	$0.13Typical price
	Garlic, 0.5$0.75 each typical	0.5	$0.30Typical price
	Mushrooms, 6 oz$0.40/oz typical	6 oz	$2.40Typical price
	Cherry and grape tomatoes, 11 oz$0.30/oz typical	11 oz	$3.18Typical price
	Pasta, 16 oz$0.10/oz typical	16 oz	$1.60Typical price
	Butter, 2 oz$0.40/oz typical	2 oz	$0.80Typical price
	Heavy cream, 8.25 oz$0.22/oz typical	8.25 oz	$1.83Typical price
	Lemons and limes, a little$0.60 each typical	a little	$0.03Typical price
	Parmesan, 3.5 oz$0.55/oz typical	3.5 oz	$1.93Typical price
	Fresh herbs (cilantro, 0.25$1.49 each typical	0.25	$0.37Typical price
	Nuts and seeds, 1.5 oz$0.70/oz typical	1.5 oz	$1.05Typical price
Total for the servings shown		$16.60

Swaps

Swap green beans for broccoliabout $0.50/lb less at typical prices
Swap heavy cream for evaporatedabout $0.08/oz less at typical prices
Swap butter for margarine and vegan butterabout $0.15/oz less at typical prices
Swap pasta for egg noodlesabout $0.04/oz more at typical prices

Pantry staples you likely have

Cooking spray, shortening, ghee, coconut and sesame oilDried herbs, spices and seasoning blendsSalt and pepperVinegar

Not included in the cost.

60 minstart to table
Mediumdifficulty
8servings as written
$$typical cost tier

Italian Vegetarian Budget Dinners

Typical price

$2.08 per serving$8.30 for 4

City Store

Typical price: Salefork's estimate of an everyday US shelf price for each ingredient. Pick your city to price it from this week's ad.

Ingredients

8 oz asparagus
4 oz green beans
1/4 cup frozen baby peas
4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
6 oz button mushrooms
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp water
1 lb penne
4 tbsp butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup pine nuts

Steps

Toast the pine nuts in a dry large skillet over medium heat for three to four minutes, then set them aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, cook the penne until tender, and reserve three tablespoons cooking water before draining.
Heat two tablespoons oil in the skillet, then cook the asparagus, green beans, peas, mushrooms, and tomatoes for eight minutes.
Add the remaining oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar, then cook for two minutes.
Melt the butter into the vegetables, stir in the cream and reserved water, and simmer for five minutes.
Toss the pasta with the sauce, lemon zest, Parmesan, parsley, basil, and pine nuts, then heat for two minutes.