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.
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Ivy says
February 16, 2011 at 1:25 PMSpinach and feta, yum.
lisaiscooking says
February 16, 2011 at 3:49 PMSounds great pureed with feta and cream cheese, and I always love pasta!
Belinda @zomppa says
February 16, 2011 at 4:31 PMThis looks so gorgeous – love the colors – giving me an idea for dinner!
Ann (napangel) says
February 16, 2011 at 6:43 PMWhat 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
February 17, 2011 at 8:19 AMAnn- Thank you!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
February 16, 2011 at 7:55 PMThat color is gorgeous! I might have to borrow this for St. Patrick’s Day recipes 🙂 Yum!
Amy @ cookbookmaniac says
February 17, 2011 at 6:42 AMI am always looking for delicious, hearty weeknight meals. I am bookmarking this one!
5 Star Foodie says
February 17, 2011 at 10:32 AMSounds terrific with feta and spinach!
norma says
February 17, 2011 at 1:07 PMEsto si que esta lindo. Very appetizing and I love my spinach.
Sharon @ Fun and Life says
February 17, 2011 at 5:09 PMThis 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
February 17, 2011 at 5:40 PMThis 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
February 18, 2011 at 5:49 AMthe sauce made your penne look so beautiful! great dish, erica. 🙂
Ziho says
February 18, 2011 at 9:37 AMMmmm great idea for kids! Looks so yummy!
Thank You!
Chris says
February 20, 2011 at 3:46 PMI 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
February 20, 2011 at 5:24 PMThis looks beautiful, Erica! I can’t wait to try this with my kids who don’t get enough greens.
A Canadian Foodie says
February 21, 2011 at 4:38 PMI 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
February 21, 2011 at 9:48 PMThe dish looks tempting and amazing idea…I love to follow your…Thank you for sharing…;)
Theresa says
February 24, 2011 at 3:07 PMHello – 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
February 24, 2011 at 4:03 PMTheresa- You can omit the feta cheese or use goat cheese!
carocaro says
March 6, 2011 at 4:16 PMI just made this one and I must say the taste is awesome (though I didn’t put feta :()! Gracias!
carocaro says
March 6, 2011 at 7:33 PMby the way, I must say that I just found your blog yesterday and I love it!
J says
May 6, 2017 at 8:59 PMOh 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!