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Quick Spinach and Feta Pasta Recipe

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4.4 from 96 reviews

A quick and delicious Spinach and Feta Pasta recipe featuring tender pasta tossed in a creamy, tangy feta cheese sauce with fresh baby spinach, garlic, and a hint of lemon. Perfect for a flavorful weeknight meal ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 1 pound (450g) Short Pasta (penne, fusilli, orecchiette, or cavatappi)

Sauce and Vegetables

  • 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 4–6 cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
  • 5 ounces (150g) Fresh Baby Spinach
  • 8 ounces (225g) Block Feta Cheese, crumbled
  • 1 large Lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1 1/2 cups Reserved Pasta Water
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly cracked
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and season generously with salt. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Avoid overcooking to prevent mushiness.
  2. Reserve the Magic Water: Before draining, scoop out at least 2 cups of the starchy pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta in a colander.
  3. Start the Sauce: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat and add olive oil. Once shimmering, add sliced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden, taking care not to burn the garlic.
  4. Wilt the Spinach: Add the fresh baby spinach to the skillet. Toss gently with tongs until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
  5. Combine and Create the Sauce: Reduce heat to low and add drained pasta to skillet with spinach. Add crumbled feta, lemon zest and juice, and freshly cracked black pepper.
  6. Emulsify the Sauce: Pour in about 1 cup of reserved pasta water and vigorously toss with tongs. The heat and starch will melt the feta and blend with olive oil, forming a creamy sauce coating the pasta.
  7. Adjust Consistency: Toss for 1-2 minutes more. If sauce is too thick, add more pasta water, a little at a time, until smooth and perfectly coating the pasta.
  8. Final Seasoning and Serving: Taste and adjust salt if needed. Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra feta, a drizzle of olive oil, or fresh herbs.

Notes

  • Reserve ample pasta water as its starchiness is key to a creamy sauce.
  • Use block feta crumbled yourself for better texture and flavor.
  • Be careful not to burn garlic to avoid bitterness.
  • The lemon zest and juice brighten the dish and balance saltiness.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to control the level of heat.
  • This pasta is best enjoyed fresh as the sauce may thicken upon standing.

Keywords: Spinach pasta, feta pasta, quick pasta recipe, creamy feta sauce, vegetarian pasta, easy weeknight dinner, Mediterranean pasta

Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/quick-spinach-and-feta-pasta-recipe/