Description
A comforting and creamy tomato and spinach pasta dish featuring a rich tomato and cream sauce with garlic, fresh spinach, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner, this recipe combines tender pasta with a flavorful, velvety sauce enhanced by fresh basil and optional red pepper flakes for a mild kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces pasta
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat, then add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain Pasta: Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water, and set the pasta aside.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Tomatoes: Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices, stir and simmer for 3-5 minutes to blend flavors.
- Add Cream: Lower heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add Spinach: Stir in fresh spinach and cook 2-3 minutes until wilted and softened.
- Add Cheese and Seasoning: Mix in grated Parmesan cheese until melted, then season with salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes to taste.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to reach desired consistency.
- Finish with Basil: Sprinkle chopped fresh basil over the pasta and gently toss one final time.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if it becomes too thick.
- For a spicier dish, increase or omit the red pepper flakes according to preference.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melting and flavor results.
- To make it lighter, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a lower-fat cream alternative.
- Fresh spinach can be swapped with baby kale or swiss chard for a different leafy green texture.
