Description
Spaghetti and spinach with sun-dried tomato cream sauce delivers Italian countryside comfort on a plate. Creamy, tangy sauce embraces tender pasta and fresh spinach, offering a quick Mediterranean-inspired meal that brings rustic elegance to your dining experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) whole-wheat spaghetti
- 5 ounces (142 grams) baby spinach, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
Tomato and Aromatics:
- ½ cup (80 grams) slivered oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) sun-dried tomato oil
- ½ cup (75 grams) halved and thinly sliced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Cheese:
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat, preparing for pasta cooking.
- Gently cascade whole-wheat spaghetti into the boiling water, allowing it to cook until perfectly al dente according to package instructions.
- While pasta cooks, position a colander in the sink and scatter baby spinach across its surface, creating a wilting station.
- Once pasta reaches ideal texture, carefully pour the contents through the spinach-lined colander, allowing hot water to naturally wilt the greens.
- Select a spacious skillet and warm the sun-dried tomato oil over medium heat, creating a fragrant cooking environment.
- Introduce thinly sliced onions and slivered sun-dried tomatoes into the skillet, stirring frequently until onions become translucent and softened.
- Sprinkle minced garlic, crushed red pepper, salt, and ground pepper into the skillet, releasing their aromatic qualities and intensifying the flavor profile.
- Elevate the heat to medium-high and pour vegetable or chicken broth into the mixture, allowing liquid to reduce and concentrate flavors.
- Incorporate sour cream, grated Parmesan, and unsalted butter, whisking until a smooth, creamy sauce emerges.
- Transfer the wilted spinach and cooked spaghetti directly into the sauce, gently tossing to ensure every strand becomes luxuriously coated.
- Plate immediately, serving the vibrant, creamy pasta while piping hot for maximum enjoyment.
Notes
- Dive into a culinary adventure with this vibrant and creamy spaghetti dish that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy meal.
- Wilting spinach directly in the colander using hot pasta water maximizes nutrient retention and creates a seamless cooking technique.
- Sun-dried tomatoes deliver intense, concentrated flavor that elevates the entire sauce with their rich, tangy profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 408
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 268 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 32 mg