Instead of cooking pasta in a huge pot of water, here we use just 3 1/2 cups for this one-pot pasta recipe. When the pasta is al dente, most of the water has evaporated and the bit that's left is thickened with the starch that cooks off the pasta. With just a few add-ins, like lemon and Parmesan cheese, you have a delicious, silky sauce. Want to use up your veggie stash in the freezer? Swap in 8 ounces frozen spinach for fresh.

Lemony Linguine with Spring Vegetables

Serves 4

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

8 ounces whole-wheat linguine or fettuccine

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

3 1/2 cups water

1 (9-ounce) package frozen artichoke hearts

6 cups chopped mature spinach

2 cups peas, fresh or frozen

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1/4 cup half-and-half

1 tablespoon lemon zest

3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice

1. Combine pasta, garlic, salt and pepper in a large pot. Add water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil, stirring frequently, for 8 minutes.

2. Stir in artichokes, spinach and peas, and cook until the pasta is tender and the water has almost evaporated, 2 to 4 minutes more.

3. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup cheese, the half-and-half, lemon zest and lemon juice to taste. Let stand, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese.

Recipe nutrition: Per serving: 372 Calories, Total Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 14 mg, Carbohydrates: 64 g, Fiber: 15 g, Total Sugars: 7 g, Added Sugars: 0 g, Protein: 18 g, Sodium: 581 mg, Potassium: 930 mg, Folate: 273 mcg, Calcium: 234 mg

Carbohydrate Servings 4 1/2

(EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com.)