Bow Ties with Ham and Asparagus

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Hi friends! Do you have any ham left over from Easter? Even though we had company, we still have a lot of leftover ham. After Christmas, I use the meat to make ooey gooey casseroles, but I like to serve lighter dishes now that it’s warming up. So yesterday, I combined two different foods from our Easter table and made this easy Bow Ties with Ham and Asparagus. Not only was it nice and light, but it was super tasty, and perfect for spring!

farfalle pasta with ham asparagus lemon and Parmesan cheese

We love having ham sandwiches for lunch, and even ham and eggs on the weekend, but this is a quick and easy dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Even the picky eaters don’t have much to complain about!

Ingredients

2 cups cooked ham
1 pound mini bow tie pasta
1 cup asparagus, cooked and cut up
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup olive oil
Juice from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese or cheese blend

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package directions, and drizzle with olive oil after draining the pasta water. Set aside.

In a large skillet, saute the garlic in a little bit of olive oil until just soft.

Add the ham and asparagus, and heat until warm.

Add the butter and remaining olive oil, and after the butter melts, add the pasta, seasonings, and stir until fully coated.

Add the lemon juice over the pasta, and stir well.

Top with Parmesan cheese, and enjoy!

bow tie pasta with ham and asparagus and lemon juice and parmesan cheese

If you don’t have any leftover asparagus, you can always pre-cook some in the microwave until it’s just tender and then add that to the pasta. You could even substitute peas if you happen to have those.

The nice thing about this pasta dish is that it’s very light, and the lemon gives it a little extra zing. I’m not a big fan of cream sauces, although the Hubby is, and even he thought that the sauce was just right.

mini bow ties with asparagus, ham and Parmesan cheese

You could serve the bow ties with ham and asparagus alone for a light dinner, or you could add a salad and some homemade garlic bread if you have a hungry crowd to feed. And, the leftovers even taste good cold — like pasta salad!

Thanks for visiting!