Penne with Asparagus, Crispy Pancetta and Parmesan Cheese

Asparagus is a wonderful vegetable to eat with penne pasta, especially tasty when accompanied by a bit of crispy pancetta and Parmigiano Reggiano shavings. A few quality ingredients, simple cooking techniques, and you can prepare a quick and complete dinner at home.

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, sauté olive oil, onion, garlic and asparagus with salt to taste on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
2. In a separate pan, brown the slices of pancetta until crisp, then cut into small pieces and add to the asparagus.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding a few spoons of cooking water to the asparagus as needed to keep moist.
4. Drain pasta, add to the skillet, mixing well on medium heat with asparagus for a minute, then top with Parmesan shavings before serving.