1. Toast the sesame seeds in a small heavy frying pan over low heat, stirring frequently until golden-brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to prevent further cooking.
2. Cut the asparagus on the diagonal into 4 cm lengths. Spray a large nonstick frying pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the oil and heat over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the asparagus and peas to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the asparagus is crisp-tender and the peas are heated through, about 5 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the stir-fried asparagus and peas and toss well to combine, then serve.

PER SERVING

75 calories
7 g protein
2 g total fat
0.3 g saturated fat
0 mg cholesterol
7 g total carbohydrate
4 g sugars
5 g fibre
7 mg sodium

Six asparagus spears provide remarkable amounts of folate— one-quarter of the day’s requirement. This heart-healthy B vitamin is also plentiful in peas. Folate helps to reduce blood levels of homocysteine, a substance linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.