Green Lentil Penne with Goat Cheese Sauce Recipe

I love pasta and it’s one of my favorite foods. You can make pasta a wide variety of different ways and never get bored with it. But let’s face it, eating too much traditional pasta isn’t good for your health, and certainly not good for gut. If you eat too much of it, it can wreck havoc with your digestive system by causing it to slow down and the calories associated with traditional pasta and really pack on the weight.

Put a healthy twist on a typically glutinous meal with products from Explore Cuisine! Explore Cuisine offers pastas made from organic beans, lentils, and peas. Jam packed with protein, iron, and fiber, Explore Cuisine pastas are all certified-gluten free, vegan, and kosher. Take the guilt out of your favorite pasta dishes with these healthy pasta alternatives.

Green Lentil Penne with Goat Cheese Sauce Recipe

1 package Explore Cuisine Green Lentil Penne
1/3 lb. super-skinny asparagus tips about 3″ to 4″ long
2 oz. goat cheese
3 T. olive oil – divided
1/2 t. fresh thyme – chopped, plus more for garnish
1/3 c. hot pasta water
salt and fresh ground pepper
4 eggs
balsamic syrup

Cook asparagus in salted boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and shock in an ice bath. Drain and set aside at room temperature. Cook penne according to package instructions, reserving some pasta water.

Drain penne and place in a large bowl with crumbled goat cheese and 2 T. olive oil, toss to coat. Add enough hot pasta water to make a smooth creamy sauce. Season with thyme, salt and pepper. Gently fold in the asparagus. Meanwhile, fry eggs sunny-side-up in 1 T. olive oil. Divide penne among 4 plates. Drizzle with balsamic syrup. Top with fried egg.