Description
Creamy spinach pasta brings Italian comfort right to your kitchen. Mediterranean flavors mingle deliciously with silky sauce, inviting you to savor each delightful forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) pasta (penne, rigatoni, spaghetti, etc.)
Spinach Sauce Ingredients:
- 5 ounces (140 grams) cream cheese
- 1 ounce (30 grams) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 9 ounces (250 grams) baby spinach
Seasoning and Oils:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, plus more to serve
- 2–3 garlic cloves, finely sliced or minced
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, or ⅓ of freshly grated nutmeg, or according to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil, preparing to cook the pasta until it reaches a tender yet firm consistency.
- Submerge the pasta in the boiling water, cooking according to package instructions. Carefully extract and reserve a portion of the starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat, creating a fragrant base for the sauce.
- Introduce minced garlic to the skillet, gently sautéing until it releases its aromatic essence without scorching.
- Gradually incorporate baby spinach into the skillet, seasoning with salt and gently wilting each batch. Ensure the leaves maintain their vibrant green color and delicate texture.
- Blend cream cheese into the wilted spinach, incorporating reserved pasta water to create a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Enrich the sauce with grated Parmesan and a whisper of nutmeg, stirring thoroughly to marry the flavors. Adjust the sauce’s thickness by introducing additional pasta water if needed.
- Transfer the perfectly cooked pasta into the spinach-laden skillet, delicately tossing to ensure each strand is generously coated with the verdant sauce.
- Present the dish immediately, embellishing with a delicate drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper, and an additional dusting of Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Quick and creamy sauce transforms simple pasta into a luxurious meal in just 15 minutes.
- Reserved pasta water is the secret weapon for creating a silky, perfectly textured sauce.
- Wilting spinach quickly preserves its vibrant green color and maintains maximum nutritional benefits.
- Cream cheese adds rich, smooth consistency while Parmesan brings depth and salty complexity.
- Adjusting sauce consistency with pasta water ensures ideal coating and prevents dryness.
- Fresh cracked black pepper and extra virgin olive oil elevate the final dish with bright, zesty notes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg