Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter

Everyone loved this!  The second time I made it, I decreased the pasta and increased the asparagus.  Even better!

 

(Mel's Kitchen Cafe)

 

Note: If asparagus aren’t in season, cut 1 pound of broccoli into small spears for roasting. Toss them with 2 tablespoon oil and ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper and roast for about 15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh asparagus spears
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon light or dark brown sugar
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Snap the tough ends off the asparagus and discard them. Cut the asparagus spears into 1-inch pieces. Put the asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with the oil and ¼ teaspoon of the salt and ¼ of the pepper. Roast until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
2. While the asparagus roasts, put the vinegar in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until the vinegar is reduced to about 3 tablespoons, about 5-10 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar and the remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper. Remove from the heat.
3. Cook the penne in a large pot of boiling salted water until just done, 11-13 minutes. Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Stir in the butter and vinegar mixture. Toss to combine well. Add in the asparagus, Parmesan, and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Serve immediately with additional Parmesan cheese for serving.