Pasta Salad with Arugula, Blue Cheese and Apples

Ingredients:

• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1 Tablespoon Garlic Gold^® Oil
• ¼ cup Garlic Gold^® (nuggets in oil)
• 1 pound fresh asparagus, stalk trimmed and cut into one inch lengths
• 6 ounces walnuts
• 2 Tablespoons honey (optional)
• 4 cups fresh arugula (pre-washed and trimmed, or wash and trim first, then measure)
• 6 ounces blue cheese (optional)
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 Granny Smith or other tart apples, diced
• Garlic Gold^® Sea Salt Nuggets and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions:

Boil pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, heat 1 Tablespoon Garlic Gold^® Oil in a skillet on medium. Add asparagus and sauté until it begins to brown, about 1 minute. Add walnuts and honey and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until walnuts are toasted, about 5 additional minutes. Stir in arugula.

Add cooked, drained pasta, Garlic Gold^® (nuggets in oil), and apple cider vinegar. Allow to cool slightly and add diced apples. Garnish individual servings with blue cheese, freshly ground pepper and Garlic Gold^® Sea Salt Nuggets.

Yield:

Serves 4 – 6

Notes:

Helpful Hints:

• Use any pasta you wish; spaghetti makes a great variation on this dish.
• Instead of fresh asparagus, use the frozen, thawed, that you can buy already cut up.
• Instead of toasting the walnuts, throw on top any variation of toasted, flavored nuts you have handy; such as candied walnuts, tamari almonds, etc.
• Substitute fresh spinach for the arugula (the kind pre-washed and trimmed in the bag of course).

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love these products:

• Garlic Gold^®
• Garlic Gold^® Oil
• Garlic Gold^® Sea Salt Nuggets