Mama's One Pot Pasta with Asparagus and Tomato Basil sauce

I have seen numerous one dish pasta recipes, and they all rely on some form of canned product. I set out to see if I could reconstruct a pasta dish using only whole vegetables and fruit, rather than using canned products. I also didn't want to add a lot of oil to a sauce. So, I came up with this. I used a One-Pot Pasta recipe from Better Homes and Gardens for my guide, but the ingredients and quantities are different; therefore, I bring you Mama's One Pot Pasta with Asparagus and Tomato Basil sauce!

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces organic penne rigatte (or any pasta!)
• 1 pint of organic tomatoes (You could also use a large can of diced if you must use a can)
• 1 bunch of asparagus, washed and bottom 3 inches removed
• 4 cups chicken broth 
• 1 large onion 
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12-15 basil leaves

1 tablespoon of salt
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper 
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese or sliced mozzarella
  
   Place a deep frying pan on the stove, over medium-high heat, and lightly spray with olive oil. We use Trader Joe's Premium Olive Oil spray.
  
  
   Dice an entire onion, and place into your pan. Stir gently to coat and distribute evenly for cooking.
  
  
  
   Quarter a pint of cherry or grape tomatoes. You can use any variety you choose.
  
  
   Add tomatoes to the pan. Stir.
  
  
   Cut cleaned asparagus, with bottom three inches removed, into 3/4-1 inch pieces.
  
  
   Add asparagus to pan, and stir. Add in six cloves of garlic, minced or sliced. We used Dorot garlic dots, which are located in the freezer section at Trader Joe's and many grocers.
  
  
   Add one tablespoon of salt.
  
  
   Add one teaspoon of dried oregano.
  
  
   Add 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper. Stir all seasonings in.
  
  
   Place four cups of chicken broth into the pan. We use homemade chicken broth, but you could use a canned/boxed equivalent. You could also substitute beef or vegetable broth.
  
  
   Take 12-15 fresh leaves of basil.
  
  
   Stack them all together and roll tightly.
  
  
   Slice the basil into thin slices.
  
  
   Add basil to pan.
  
  
   Allow chicken broth to thaw.
  
  
  Once the broth is thawed, you add in the entire 16 oz. package of pasta (your choice). Stir, and place the lid on the pan. Reduce heat to medium and allow this to simmer for approximately 12 minutes. 
  
   This is the finished product. It will not have a lot of juice, and pasta is tender.
  
  
   You can serve this plain, or you can add some fresh mozzarella or parmesan. 
  
  
  
  

This recipe serves six adults. This pasta dish has minimal sauce, so if you like a lot of sauce, you can always increase the liquid and tomato content. Also, you could serve with a side of marinara sauce. Enjoy!

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