Description
Creamy spaghetti & spinach with sun-dried tomato cream sauce offers a delightful Italian-inspired pasta experience. Rich flavors blend seamlessly, creating a comforting meal you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti
- 6 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boiling Preparation: Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a vigorous boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions, adding spinach during the final minute to wilt. Drain pasta, reserving one cup of starchy cooking liquid.
- Aromatic Foundation: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature. Sauté minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes until fragrant and deeply golden, releasing their intense flavor profile.
- Sauce Creation: Pour heavy cream into the skillet, whisking in Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and develops a rich, creamy consistency.
- Pasta Integration: Introduce cooked spaghetti and wilted spinach into the sauce, carefully coating each strand. Gradually blend reserved pasta water to achieve a smooth, clingy texture that ensures maximum flavor absorption.
- Final Presentation: Plate the sauced pasta, garnishing with fresh basil leaves and an optional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while the dish remains piping hot and aromatic.
Notes
- Choose High-Quality Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Select soft, plump sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil for maximum flavor intensity and better sauce consistency.
- Control Pasta Water Consistency: Add reserved pasta water gradually to create a perfectly silky sauce, preventing it from becoming too thin or thick.
- Balance Cream Sauce Seasoning: Taste and adjust red pepper flakes and salt incrementally to customize heat and flavor profile without overwhelming other ingredients.
- Optimize Pasta Cooking Technique: Ensure spaghetti reaches al dente texture by following package instructions precisely, which prevents mushiness and maintains ideal pasta structure.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg