Penne with Beef Strips, Parsnip & Pesto
Whole wheat penne tossed with pan-seared beef strips, caramelized parsnip cubes, and a spoonful of pesto that ties everything together. Cherry tomatoes soften in the pan while arugula goes in last, wilting into the warm pasta.
703 calories, 34 grams of protein, and 15 grams of fiber from a single pan and a pot of boiling water. Fifteen minutes, start to finish.
Ingredients
- penne, whole wheat 3 ounces
- parsnip 1
- cherry tomatoes 8
- olive oil 1 tablespoon
- beef strips 3 ounces
- pesto 1 tablespoon
- arugula 1 handful
Method
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Cook the penne according to the package instructions.
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Cut the parsnip into cubes. Halve the cherry tomatoes.
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Heat the oil in a pan and cook the parsnip cubes for about 5 minutes. Add the beef strips and cook them for 4 minutes until they are done and the parsnip is soft. Stir in the cherry tomatoes and the pesto and heat for another 2 minutes.
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Drain the penne and add it to the pan with the vegetables. Stir everything well together. Finally, stir in the arugula. Season the dish with pepper and salt.
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Serve the penne with beef strips, parsnip and pesto on a plate.
Cut the parsnip cubes small, about 1 cm. Parsnip is denser than most vegetables and needs the head start before the beef goes in. If the cubes are too large, the outside browns before the center softens.
Behind this recipe
Can I use regular penne instead of whole wheat?
Yes, the dish works with any short pasta. Whole wheat adds most of the 15 grams of fiber in this meal, so switching to regular penne drops that number. If fiber is not a priority for you, use whatever penne you prefer.
Is 78 grams of carbs at dinner too much if I'm trying to lose weight?
That depends on your daily target, not the hour. A controlled trial found that people who ate most of their carbs at dinner lost 28% more weight than those who spread carbs evenly throughout the day. The total daily intake mattered. The timing did not hurt. If this pasta fits your daily number, eating it at night is not the problem.
Read the full evidence reviewWhat can I use instead of pesto?
A tablespoon of sun-dried tomato paste or chimichurri works in the same slot. Both bring enough flavor that you will not need extra seasoning. The recipe already has fat from the olive oil to coat the pasta, so skip creamy sauces unless you want to push the calorie count higher.
