Description
A creamy, cheesy pasta dish packed with fresh spinach, perfect for a quick and wholesome dinner.
Ingredients
Pasta Ingredients
- 8 ounces Pasta of choice (Penne, rigatoni, fusilli, fettuccine, or whole wheat.)
- 4 cups Fresh spinach (Or 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed.)
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil or butter
- 3-4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 0.5 small Onion, optional but tasty
- 1-1.25 cups Milk (Or half and half for extra richness.)
- 2-3 tablespoons Greek yogurt or cream cheese (For creamy body.)
- 3/4 cup Cheese (parmesan, mozzarella, or mix)
- Salt and black pepper (To taste)
- Red chili flakes, optional
- 1-2 teaspoons Lemon juice (To brighten the flavors.)
Instructions
Preparation
- Boil the pasta in well salted water until just al dente. Save about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a large pan, warm olive oil or butter. Add onion if using, then cook for 2 to 3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and stir for about 20 seconds.
- Add fresh spinach and let it wilt. If you prefer a blended sauce, wilt it first, then blend with milk until smooth.
- Lower the heat, add milk and stir. Then add Greek yogurt or cream cheese and stir gently until it melts.
- Stir in parmesan and mozzarella while keeping the heat low.
- Add the drained pasta and toss until coated. Use splashes of reserved pasta water until the sauce looks glossy.
- Finish with black pepper and a squeeze of lemon.
Notes
Keep heat low once dairy and cheese are added to avoid graininess. Use pasta water to adjust the sauce texture as needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian