Creamy Feta Spinach Pasta (Print Version)

Tender pasta tossed with crumbled feta, wilted spinach, and a creamy sauce made with starchy pasta water.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)

→ Dairy

02 - 7 oz feta cheese, crumbled

→ Vegetables

03 - 5 oz baby spinach, washed
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Pantry

05 - 3 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
08 - Salt, to taste

→ Garnish (optional)

09 - Zest of 1 lemon
10 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring, until wilted (about 2 minutes).
04 - Add hot, drained pasta to the skillet with the spinach. Sprinkle in the crumbled feta.
05 - Pour in about 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water. Toss everything together vigorously until the feta melts slightly and forms a creamy sauce, adding more pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Season with black pepper, chili flakes (if using), and salt to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with lemon zest and fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The feta creates this incredible creamy sauce without any actual cream, so you get all the richness with less guilt
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something you'd order at a cozy neighborhood restaurant
02 -
  • The pasta water is absolutely essential here, it's the starch that makes the feta transform from crumbles into actual sauce
  • Add the pasta water while everything is still piping hot, because that heat is what melts the feta into that creamy consistency
03 -
  • Don't rinse your pasta after draining, that starch is crucial for sauce cling
  • Buy feta in blocks and crumble it yourself rather than buying pre-crumbled, which is often drier and less flavorful
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