Description
Creamy Swiss gruyere spaghetti brings alpine comfort to your pasta night. Rich cheese melts into silky strands, creating a luxurious dinner that whisks you straight to mountain kitchens with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese:
- 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
Main Ingredients:
- 5 ounces (142 grams) spaghetti
- 2 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 2% milk
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon dried breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon herbs de Provence
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare a flavorful topping by mixing crisp breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, fragrant olive oil, and freshly ground black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a vigorous boil, then add spaghetti and cook approximately 2 minutes less than package recommendations to ensure perfect al dente texture.
- While pasta cooks, create a velvety sauce foundation by melting butter in an oven-safe pan over medium heat, carefully monitoring temperature to prevent burning.
- Introduce flour to the melted butter, stirring consistently to form a smooth roux, cooking for roughly one minute until the mixture develops a light golden hue.
- Gradually incorporate milk into the roux, whisking continuously to prevent lumps and maintain a silky consistency, keeping heat low to avoid scorching.
- Enhance sauce with aromatic herbs de Provence and a delicate sprinkle of salt, allowing flavors to meld and develop for several minutes.
- Gently fold in rich Gruyere cheese, stirring until completely melted and creating a luxurious, creamy texture.
- Add fresh spinach to the sauce, stirring until leaves wilt and integrate seamlessly into the creamy mixture.
- Transfer perfectly cooked spaghetti directly into the sauce, gently tossing to ensure each strand is generously coated with the cheesy mixture.
- Distribute the prepared Parmesan breadcrumb mixture evenly across the pasta’s surface, creating a promising crunchy topping.
- Position pan under a preheated broiler, watching carefully and rotating as needed to achieve a golden, crispy breadcrumb crust without burning.
Notes
- Timing is crucial when cooking pasta to achieve the perfect al dente texture, so remove it from boiling water 2 minutes before the package instructions suggest.
- Create a foolproof roux by carefully monitoring butter heat to prevent burning and ensure a smooth, creamy sauce base.
- Whisk milk gradually and consistently to prevent sauce separation, maintaining a gentle heat that promotes silky consistency.
- Incorporate Gruyere cheese off direct heat to maintain its luxurious melting quality and prevent potential graininess.
- Broiling transforms the dish with crispy breadcrumb topping, adding delightful textural contrast to the creamy pasta.
- Select fresh spinach for vibrant color and quick wilting, enhancing both visual appeal and nutritional value of the final dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg