Creamy Spinach Pasta Garlic (Print Version)
Luscious pasta with tender spinach and rich garlic cream sauce ideal for easy meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine
→ Vegetables
02 - 7 oz fresh baby spinach, washed
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
07 - 1 2/3 cups whole milk
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
09 - 2 oz grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
12 - Extra grated Parmesan, to serve
13 - Freshly ground black pepper
14 - Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# How to Cook:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
02 - While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to form a roux.
04 - Gradually whisk in the milk and cream. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens, about 3–5 minutes.
05 - Stir in the grated Parmesan and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper.
06 - Add the spinach to the sauce and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
07 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss gently to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for a silky sauce. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan, black pepper, and parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
- Spinach wilts into the cream so even vegetable skeptics ask for seconds
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for tomorrow's lunch
02 -
- The sauce thickens quickly off the heat so remove it from the burner sooner than you think necessary
- Adding pasta water at the end transforms a good sauce into something restaurant worthy
- Nutmeg is the secret ingredient most people cannot identify but definitely notice when missing
03 -
- Prep all ingredients before starting because once you begin making the sauce, you cannot step away
- Use freshly grated nutmeg instead of ground if possible because the difference in flavor is remarkable