Description
Creamy spaghetti with spinach and sun-dried tomato sauce delivers an Italian-inspired comfort meal packed with rich flavors. Elegant pasta promises a delightful culinary experience you’ll savor down to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) whole-wheat spaghetti
Main Ingredients:
- 5 ounces (142 grams) baby spinach
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) vegetable or chicken broth, low-sodium
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter, unsalted
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Boil spaghetti in salted water at 212°F for 8-10 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat (325°F). Sauté finely chopped onions and minced garlic until translucent and aromatic, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Incorporate chopped sun-dried tomatoes into the skillet, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes to intensify their flavor profile.
- Pour vegetable or chicken broth into the skillet, allowing the mixture to simmer and develop complex flavors for 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and gently fold in sour cream, stirring until the sauce becomes smooth and uniformly heated.
- Add cooked spaghetti and fresh baby spinach to the skillet. Gently toss until spinach wilts and pasta becomes completely coated with the creamy sauce. Adjust sauce consistency by adding reserved pasta water if needed.
- Season the mixture with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes to enhance the overall taste.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta, stirring until completely melted and integrated into the sauce.
- Transfer to serving plates immediately. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of richness and flavor.
Notes
- Boost pasta texture by cooking spaghetti just until al dente, ensuring a perfect firm bite and preventing mushiness.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes, allowing personalization for spice lovers or those preferring milder flavors.
- Simplify dairy-free adaptation by replacing sour cream with coconut cream or cashew cream for lactose-intolerant individuals.
- Enhance protein content by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to transform this vegetarian dish into a more substantial meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 311 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 230 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg