Description
Creamy “spaghetti & spinach with sun-dried tomato cream sauce” delivers Mediterranean magic on your plate. Rich with silky textures and bold Italian flavors, you’ll savor each sumptuous twirl of pasta that whispers coastal charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) whole-wheat spaghetti
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed preferred)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or dairy-free alternative)
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for a vegetarian option)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
Seasoning and Oil:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, from sun-dried tomatoes jar)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water, generously salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook spaghetti until perfectly al dente, following package guidance.
- Position fresh spinach leaves in a colander, then pour steaming pasta directly over them, allowing the heat to naturally wilt and soften the greens.
- Heat the reserved sun-dried tomato oil (or olive oil) in a skillet over medium temperature. Introduce minced garlic and diced onions, gently sautéing until translucent and aromatic.
- Incorporate finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes into the skillet, allowing them to release their intense flavor for approximately 2 minutes.
- Stream heavy cream into the pan, letting the mixture simmer and gradually thicken, creating a luxurious, velvety sauce.
- Introduce the cooked pasta and wilted spinach to the skillet, delicately tossing to ensure every strand is lavishly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast, stirring to integrate and enhance the overall richness of the dish.
- Fine-tune the seasoning with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes for a subtle kick. Plate immediately, garnishing with additional cheese if desired.
Notes
- Optimize pasta texture by cooking just until al dente, ensuring a perfect bite and preventing mushiness.
- Drain pasta water strategically over spinach to gently wilt greens without overcooking, preserving vibrant color and nutrients.
- Customize sauce thickness by controlling cream simmering time; shorter simmer creates lighter sauce, longer creates richer consistency.
- Adapt recipe for dietary needs by substituting heavy cream with plant-based alternatives like cashew cream or coconut milk for vegan version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg