Description
A warm, glossy ribbon of pasta tossed in a velvety Parmesan cream, punctuated by bright pockets of sautéed spinach and garlic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces of pasta (fettuccine, penne, or any shape you prefer)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 cups of fresh spinach
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30–45 seconds until fragrant—do not let it brown.
- Add the fresh spinach in batches, stirring until wilted (1–2 minutes). If the pan looks dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir frequently to prevent the cream from scorching.
- Lower the heat and whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Add reserved pasta water as needed for desired consistency.
- Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat thoroughly. Warm everything together for 1–2 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan if desired.
Notes
For lighter options, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt. For a vegan version, use plant-based cream and nutritional yeast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 2.5g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 85mg