Kids Make Summer Asparagus Pasta

[Originally posted on 6/1/18]

This is a simple recipe that can involve the whole family. My son loved juicing the lemon, and my kids were super interested in helping slice the tomatoes. Some of the tasks involved are not easy for little hands, but we found our kids had the focus and precision to work at it!

While your kids are helping out, you can also pause to discuss which FOOD GROUP each ingredient belongs to and share some fun facts about this meal's featured ingredient: ASPARAGUS

Here are some creative ways for your kid to be your personal Sous Chef as you make our Summer Asparagus Pasta. Simply hover over each image for details. And make sure your little dudes wash their hands before starting!

🍴PASTA🍴

To help cook the pasta, kids can:

BRING WATER TO A BOIL.

This teaches kids to pay attention to the stovetop and see what happens to water when it gets that hot. Yay science!

try noodles

Let kids decide if noodles are done. Hungry toddlers love this job!

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🍴Asparagus🍴

To prepare the asparagus, kids may:

Cut Asparagus*

Kids can use kitchen shears to cut up asparagus.

Rinse Asparagus in a strainer*

Kids can use a towel to dry the veggies.

PREPARE BUTTER*

Let kids measure and cut butter with a plastic knife or butter knife. This is a good opportunity to explain measurements.

We use these Kitchen Shears.

🍴summer asparagus Pasta Mixture🍴

To prepare the final dish, kids can:

Zest the lemon

This is a fun challenge for little ones.

Slice tomatoes

Help kids cut tomatoes with a plastic knife. *

Scrape and pour prosciutto, tomatoes, and arugula into the pasta pot

It can be fun to see the colorful combination of ingredients come together.

This Deiss PRO dual zester-grater was perfect for zesting the lemon.

*Note: For toddlers especially, these tasks require adult supervision and/or assistance, as items may be sharp, hot or otherwise dangerous. 

Back to Summer Asparagus Pasta.