Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Pasta with Spinach Sauce

This works for us because it's oh so tasty, gets us to eat more nutritious spinach, and it's easy.  This is my favorite dish I make and I actually crave it.  I originally got this from Giada De Laurentiis.  If you want the original recipe straight, click on her link.  Leave it to me to make a healthy recipe a little less healthy, but it's still in the range.  I've reduced the garlic so my kids won't think it's "hot" added half and half, skipped a step at the end with fresh spinach and use more cream cheese than she calls for.  Here it is:

1 lb. multigrain pasta
1-2 garlic cloves
2 ounces goat cheese (chevre - not feta!)
3-4 oz. whipped cream cheese
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
6 oz. fresh baby spinach leaves
2 Tbs. freshly grated parmesan
half and half (to taste)

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Add pasta until al dente 11-12 mins.  Stir occasionally.

Mince garlic in food processor.  Add goat cheese, cream cheese, salt, pepper and slowly add spinach leaves.  When spinach is chopped, add half and half until desired texture for sauce.  

Add sauce to pasta and sprinkle with parmesan.  When I reheat leftovers I like to sprinkle additional parmesan and coarse salt on top (I love it the next day for lunch).  Obviously if you like a "saucier" dish double sauce or use less pasta.  

Now go see all the amazing ideas at Works for Me Wednesday!

5 comments:

Laura said...

Okay, YUM! That looks and sounds sooo good! I'm gonna have to try it! Hey, how 'bout for St. Patty's day! I bet I could even get the kids to eat it that day!

Anonymous said...

That looks and sounds delicious. I will have to try this and also pass this along to my friend :)

Thank you

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great meatless Lenten Friday meal. I would like to try it on my family. It must not taste too much like spinach? Your variation sounds great!

Anonymous said...

Oh. My. Word.

That sounds like something I'd order from a swanky Italian restaurant. Mmm....I'm trying it this week. Thank you so much for such a simple and delicious sounding recipe!

Anonymous said...

Oh Trudy, this sounds wonderful! And now I have another idea for using some of the shrimp....this would be WONDERFUL with some grilled shrimp!