This is a perfect week night meal the whole family will enjoy. Sneaking spinach into a dish it is a great way to get your picky kids to eat more leafy greens without any complaints.
This is a wonderful and simple pasta dish that can be served with salad and bread on the side.
Enjoy!
Ingredients
(4-6 servings)
- 3 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 1/2 cup onions, diced
- 1 pound fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/3 cup feta cheese
- 1/4 cup hot pasta water
- Salt & ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 pound dried penne or other pasta
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- Red hot pepper (optional)
Directions
- In a fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté lightly until golden, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute more.
- Add the spinach and sauté, stirring, until completely wilted, about 3 minutes. Add the salt and pepper and continue sautéing for about 2 minutes more.
- Place the spinach mixture, parsley, feta cheese and cream cheese in a food processor. Add the hot pasta water. Then season with salt and plenty of black pepper.
- Cook the pasta per package instructions. Drain and toss immediately with the green sauce. Sprinkle red hot pepper on top and serve with asiago or parmesan cheese.
Ivy says
Spinach and feta, yum.
lisaiscooking says
Sounds great pureed with feta and cream cheese, and I always love pasta!
Belinda @zomppa says
This looks so gorgeous – love the colors – giving me an idea for dinner!
Ann (napangel) says
What a fabulous idea. I love spinach, so I’ll have to try this out.
By the way, I’ve awarded you the Stylish Blogger Award! I just love your site. (Feel free to ignore the assignments.) Congratulations!
http://www.napangel.com/2011/02/16/stylish-blogger-awards/.
Erica says
Ann- Thank you!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
That color is gorgeous! I might have to borrow this for St. Patrick’s Day recipes 🙂 Yum!
Amy @ cookbookmaniac says
I am always looking for delicious, hearty weeknight meals. I am bookmarking this one!
5 Star Foodie says
Sounds terrific with feta and spinach!
norma says
Esto si que esta lindo. Very appetizing and I love my spinach.
Sharon @ Fun and Life says
This looks delicious! What great colours! I still have cravings for your other pasta dish some time ago though. The one with meatballs in a creamy sauce. Swedish meatballs if I remember correctly? Still have yet to try it!
Stevie says
This dish looks really good and I would not have to force anyone to eat it. At first I thought that you had extra-green penne rigata with no sauce at all. I woudl really like this and I feel that it is an easy recipe to improvise with using other kinds of greens, cheeses or whatever. Thanks! I love your blog, too!
grace says
the sauce made your penne look so beautiful! great dish, erica. 🙂
Ziho says
Mmmm great idea for kids! Looks so yummy!
Thank You!
Chris says
I had to look twice and read twice to make sure I was not seeing spinach pasta instead of pasta with spinach sauce. It covers the penne so perfectly!!!! This is a gorgeous dish Erica and I am saving it.
Cheri says
This looks beautiful, Erica! I can’t wait to try this with my kids who don’t get enough greens.
A Canadian Foodie says
I see nothing in the photo nut pasta and cheese – is the sauce under the pasta? The recipe looks lovely as I read it – and the green pasta is vibrant in the photo.
🙂
Valerie
Tan says
The dish looks tempting and amazing idea…I love to follow your…Thank you for sharing…;)
Theresa says
Hello – can you suggest a subsitute for Feta cheese that would work nicely??? I am not a big fan of it and am afraid if i just remove it something would be missing?? thanks
Erica says
Theresa- You can omit the feta cheese or use goat cheese!
carocaro says
I just made this one and I must say the taste is awesome (though I didn’t put feta :()! Gracias!
carocaro says
by the way, I must say that I just found your blog yesterday and I love it!
J says
Oh my! Made this for dinner tonight. It was a huge hit. This is definitely a keeper. So pretty on the plate too. I served mine with burst cherry tomatoes on top, but the spinach sauce is good enough to eat by itself with a spoon!