Serve this as a first course the next time you invite your friends over for a steak barbecue. Start with some crudités and a savory dip and finish with a fresh fruit salad.

Ingredients

• ½ pound whole wheat linguine
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• ½ cup finely minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 4 roasted plum tomatoes, homemade or canned, each cut into four horizontal slices
• 4 ounces arugula
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons whole wheat breadcrumbs
• 1 ounce Asiago cheese, shaved

Instructions

1. cook the linguine until al dente, according to package directions
2. While the pasta is cooking, lightly coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place over medium-low heat and add the garlic. Saute until golden but no browned. Drain the linguine and add it to the skillet, along with the parsley, tomatoes and arugula. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with the pepper flakes and bread crumbs. cook for 2 to 3 minutes, tossing to combine.
3. Divide the pasta among four heated pasta bowls and scatter the Asiago cheese on top of each serving. Serve immediately.

Nutritional information per serving

Serves four

Calories 280

Total fat 6 g

Saturated fat 2 g

Protein 9 g

Carbohydrate 49 g

Dietary fiber 7 g

Cholesterol 6 mg

Sodium 115 mg

Potassium 475 mg

— Recipe from The Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide and Cookbook