Description
Creamy spinach pasta blends Italian culinary traditions with nutritious ingredients. Delicate greens and smooth textures invite home cooks to savor each comforting Mediterranean-inspired bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, spaghetti, etc.)
- 9 oz (250 g) baby spinach
- 5 oz (140 g) cream cheese
- 1 oz (30 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, plus more to serve
- 2–3 garlic cloves, finely sliced or minced
- ¼ tsp fine salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, or ⅓ of freshly grated nutmeg, or according to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil Water: Ignite a large pot of water to a vigorous boil, primed for pasta cooking.
- Cook Pasta: Immerse pasta in boiling water, following package guidelines. Extract a cup of starchy liquid before draining.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium flame. Introduce minced garlic, gently toasting until fragrant and translucent.
- Prepare Spinach: Add baby spinach to the skillet, seasoning with salt. Wilt leaves swiftly, preserving their emerald brilliance and tender structure.
- Create Sauce: Fold cream cheese into the spinach, incorporating reserved pasta water to craft a silky, luxurious sauce. Integrate Parmesan and a whisper of nutmeg, stirring to harmonize flavors. Adjust consistency with additional pasta water if desired.
- Combine and Finish: Merge cooked pasta with the verdant sauce, thoroughly coating each strand. Plate immediately, embellishing with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and an elegant dusting of Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve some starchy cooking liquid to create a silky, smooth sauce that clings perfectly to pasta strands.
- Garlic Technique: Sauté garlic gently over medium heat to release its flavor without burning, preventing a bitter taste.
- Spinach Preservation: Wilt spinach carefully to maintain its bright green color and tender texture, avoiding overcooking.
- Sauce Consistency Hack: Adjust sauce thickness by gradually adding reserved pasta water, creating a creamy, luxurious coating for the pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 402
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 319 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 41 mg