• killer_penguin@lemmy.worldOPM
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    1 year ago

    Pasta with Creamy Spinach Sauce

    5 ounces spinach, rinsed thoroughly
    
    3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
    
    1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
    
    4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
    
    ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil, plus a few leaves for garnish
    
    ½ cup loosely packed fresh parsley
    
    ¼ cup shelled pistachios, unsalted
    
    1 lemon, juiced
    
    ½ cup marscarpone or ricotta cheese
    
    ¾ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, divided
    
    12 ounces tagliatelle
    
    1 cup pasta cooking water
    
    Salt and pepper to taste
    

    Blanch the spinach:

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the spinach and boil it for 30 seconds. Transfer to an ice bath and set aside.
    

    Note: You can leave the water boiling, add salt, and reuse it for the pasta. However, if you notice any bits of grit in the water, I recommend dumping it and filling the pot back up with fresh water, and bringing it to a boil for the pasta.

    Sauté the onions and garlic:

    Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10–12 minutes until very soft.
    
    Add the roughly chopped garlic and cook for 1 minute. Season with a pinch of salt and turn off the heat. Set aside.
    

    Cook the pasta:

    To the pot of boiling, salted water, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Scoop out 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and set aside.
    

    Prepare the sauce:

    Drain the spinach and squeeze out as much of the excess water as possible.
    
    Place the basil, parsley, pistachios, spinach, and lemon juice in a food processor or blender. Pulse until finely minced. Add 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and pulse again until incorporated.
    
    Add the mascarpone, cooked onions and garlic, and ½ cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano to the food processor along with a big pinch of salt. Pulse until smooth. Add half of the pasta water and continue blending until smooth. Transfer the sauce to a bowl.
    

    Sauce the pasta:

    Add the cooked pasta to the bowl of sauce. Toss to coat, adding more pasta cooking water as needed until the pasta is completely coated.
    

    To serve:

    Divide the pasta between shallow bowls. Garnish with the remaining grated parm and a few basil leaves. Finish each bowl with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil if you like. Enjoy!