Spinach Mushroom Pasta Recipe
A creamy and flavorful spinach mushroom pasta recipe featuring sautéed cremini mushrooms, fresh spinach, and a rich half-and-half Parmesan sauce. This comforting dish is perfect for a quick weekday dinner and pairs wonderfully with a light salad and crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound Cremini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
- 2¼ cups half-and-half (or single cream outside the US)
- 1 pound pasta (your choice of type)
- 8 oz fresh spinach
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, adding a tablespoon of salt to enhance the pasta’s flavor. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until just under al dente, as it will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Sauté garlic: While the pasta cooks, heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Cook mushrooms: Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and stir occasionally. Cook until the mushrooms become golden and tender, about 8 minutes.
- Add spinach: Stir in the fresh spinach, allowing it to wilt and combine with the mushrooms in the skillet.
- Make the sauce: Pour in the half-and-half and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 4 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Drain pasta: Reserve about half a cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta to use later for adjusting sauce consistency.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained pasta, chopped parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Toss well to combine everything.
- Adjust sauce consistency: Gradually add half of the reserved pasta water while tossing the pasta, allowing it to finish cooking and become well coated. Add more pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Season: Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve: Serve immediately, ideally with a light salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- You can use any pasta shape you prefer, such as fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti.
- For a lighter version, substitute the half-and-half with a lower-fat cream or milk.
- Make sure to reserve pasta water as its starch helps to create a smooth, silky sauce.
- Freshly grated Parmesan provides the best flavor compared to pre-grated varieties.
- To keep the spinach vibrant, add it just before the sauce and cook briefly.
Keywords: spinach mushroom pasta, creamy pasta, vegetarian pasta, Italian pasta recipe, easy pasta dish
Find it online: https://cheframiflavor.com/spinach-mushroom-pasta-recipe/
