Description
Creamy spinach and mushroom pasta delight brings Mediterranean comfort to dinner tables worldwide. Home chefs can craft this simple yet elegant dish with fresh ingredients and minimal cooking skills.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10.5 oz (300 g) whole wheat pasta
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 7 oz (200 g) button mushrooms
- 5.3 oz (150 g) fresh spinach
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 lemon zest
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Cook whole wheat pasta until perfectly al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Carefully reserve a half cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Mushroom Transformation: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat. Introduce sliced mushrooms, allowing them to caramelize and develop a rich golden-brown complexion, stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes until deeply colored and slightly crisp.
- Aromatic Build-up: Lower skillet temperature and add minced garlic, releasing its fragrant essence for approximately 1 minute. Immediately incorporate fresh spinach, gently wilting the leaves until they collapse and integrate with the mushroom mixture.
- Sauce Crafting: Create a velvety sauce by blending ricotta and parmesan cheese. Enhance with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and bright lemon zest. Adjust consistency using reserved pasta water, creating a smooth, clingy texture.
- Final Assembly: Introduce drained pasta into the skillet, carefully folding it with the mushroom-spinach medley. Pour the ricotta-parmesan sauce, thoroughly coating each pasta strand. Ensure even distribution and optimal sauce coverage.
- Finishing Touches: Garnish with additional lemon zest and optional crushed red pepper flakes for those seeking an extra flavor kick. Serve immediately while the dish maintains its optimal temperature and creamy consistency.
Notes
- Pasta Water Preservation: Reserve half a cup of starchy pasta water to create a silky, smooth sauce that perfectly coats every noodle.
- Mushroom Caramelization Technique: Allow mushrooms to brown undisturbed for 5-7 minutes, creating deep, rich flavor through proper caramelization.
- Cheese Blend Balancing: Mix ricotta and parmesan carefully to achieve a creamy, tangy sauce that complements the earthy mushrooms and fresh spinach.
- Zesty Finishing Touch: Use fresh lemon zest to brighten the entire dish, cutting through the richness and adding a vibrant, fresh dimension to the creamy pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg