Description
Creamy spinach artichoke delight pasta blends Mediterranean flavors with comfort food charm. Pasta lovers savor this simple yet sophisticated dish that brings together tangy artichokes, silky spinach, and rich parmesan in one delightful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10.6 oz (300 g) pasta
- 8.8 oz (250 g) baby spinach
- 14.1 oz (400 g) can artichoke hearts
- 6.3 oz (180 g) cream cheese
- 1.8 oz (50 g) vegetarian hard cheese, grated
- 8.8 oz (250 g) vegetable stock
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp red chilli flakes
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil water in a large pot with ample salt, cooking pasta to package-recommended tenderness. Carefully extract and set aside a cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- Aromatic Foundation: Heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium flame. Introduce minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for one minute while avoiding garlic browning.
- Sauce Development: Pour vegetable broth and cream cheese into the skillet, whisking methodically until achieving a seamless, velvety sauce. Allow gentle simmering to develop rich flavors.
- Verdant Integration: Cascade fresh baby spinach leaves into the sauce, stirring consistently until leaves transform into a vibrant emerald green and become tender.
- Harmonious Combination: Fold cooked pasta and artichoke hearts into the creamy mixture, ensuring thorough coating and natural sauce thickening. Modulate consistency by incrementally adding reserved pasta water.
- Final Flourish: Elevate the dish with a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese, calibrating seasoning with salt and black pepper to personal preference. Serve piping hot, garnished with an additional cheese dusting.
Notes
- Prevent Garlic Burning: Watch carefully when sautéing garlic, as it quickly turns bitter and burns, ruining the entire sauce’s flavor profile.
- Reserve Pasta Water Wisely: The starchy water acts as a magical binding agent, helping create a silky, smooth sauce that perfectly coats every pasta strand.
- Wilt Spinach Perfectly: Cook spinach just until it turns bright green and becomes tender, avoiding overcooking that leads to a mushy, unappealing texture.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Whisk cream cheese slowly and consistently to ensure a smooth, lump-free sauce that blends seamlessly with other ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg