Description
Creamy spinach mushroom pasta showcases earthy flavors from Italy’s rich culinary tradition. Fresh ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a simple yet elegant meal you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
- 8 oz (226 g) mushrooms (cremini or button), sliced
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup (60 ml) pasta cooking water (reserved)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil generously salted water in a large pot. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving a quarter cup of starchy water before draining. Set pasta aside momentarily.
- Mushroom Sauté: Heat olive oil and butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions until translucent, then add mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms develop a golden-brown caramelization, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Spinach Integration: Introduce fresh spinach to the mushroom mixture, allowing leaves to wilt and merge seamlessly. Add minced garlic, releasing its aromatic profile into the skillet.
- Sauce Creation: Lower heat and pour heavy cream into the skillet. Blend in Parmesan cheese and optional red pepper flakes. Simmer gently, allowing flavors to meld and intensify, creating a rich, creamy foundation.
- Final Composition: Combine cooked pasta directly into the sauce, ensuring thorough coating. Adjust sauce consistency by gradually adding reserved pasta water. Perform a final seasoning check, balancing salt and pepper to taste.
- Presentation: Transfer pasta to serving plates. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and an additional Parmesan cheese sprinkle for an elevated culinary experience.
Notes
- Manage Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness, ensuring a perfect bite and ideal pasta absorption of the creamy sauce.
- Control Mushroom Caramelization: Use medium-high heat and avoid overcrowding the pan to achieve golden-brown mushrooms with deep, rich flavor without steaming.
- Prevent Cream Separation: Add heavy cream gradually and maintain low heat while stirring constantly to create a smooth, stable sauce without curdling or splitting.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute heavy cream with plant-based alternatives like coconut milk for dairy-free version, or use gluten-free pasta for celiac-friendly adaptation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg