Description
This Delicious Spinach Tomato Pasta is a creamy and flavorful one-pot meal combining tender paneer pasta with a rich tomato-based sauce, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a comforting dinner, it features a luscious blend of cream, herbs, and mild spices, ready in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Liquids
- 17 ounces paneer pasta
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 to 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
Seasonings and Cheese
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Initial Ingredients: Gather all your ingredients such as paneer pasta, chicken stock, chopped onion, cream, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomato oil, red chili flakes, minced garlic, fresh basil, kosher salt, and black pepper to have everything ready for cooking.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Heat a pot over medium-high heat and pour in the sun-dried tomato oil to warm it up.
- Cook the Onions: Add the chopped onion to the hot oil and cook until it turns slightly brown, developing flavor and sweetness.
- Add Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Stir in the minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often to prevent the garlic from burning and to meld flavors.
- Incorporate Tomato Paste: Mix in the tomato paste and continue cooking the mixture for two more minutes while stirring to deepen the sauce’s flavor.
- Build the Sauce: Gradually pour the chicken stock into the pot, using it to deglaze the pan and blend with the tomato base into a smooth sauce.
- Add Cream: Stir in the heavy whipping cream thoroughly to give the sauce its creamy texture.
- Season the Sauce: Add black pepper, kosher salt, and red chili flakes. Stir well to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed through the sauce.
- Add Pasta: Put the paneer pasta into the pot and stir it into the sauce so that each piece is coated and mixed well.
- Simmer Pasta: Reduce the heat to low-medium and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking and to check pasta texture.
- Check Pasta Texture: Taste or check that the pasta is about 75% cooked before proceeding to the next step.
- Add Spinach and Basil: Add fresh spinach and basil leaves to the pot, allowing the spinach to wilt into the sauce.
- Adjust Consistency: If the spinach absorbs too much liquid and the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more water or chicken stock to keep a nice sauce consistency.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Stir in freshly shredded Parmesan until melted and fully integrated into the creamy sauce.
- Finish Off: Turn off the heat and mix everything thoroughly until creamy and well combined, ready to serve.
- Serve the Dish: Ladle the creamy tomato spinach pasta into bowls, optionally topping with grilled chicken for added protein.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately and savor your delicious, creamy, homemade pasta dish!
Notes
- Ensure to stir frequently when cooking pasta in the sauce to prevent sticking and uneven cooking.
- You can substitute paneer pasta for your favorite type of pasta like penne or fusilli if preferred.
- The sun-dried tomato oil adds deep flavor; if unavailable, olive oil can be used but with slightly milder taste.
- Adjust red chili flakes according to your spice preference; reduce for less heat.
- Adding grilled chicken is optional but adds protein and makes the dish more filling.
- If the sauce thickens too much during cooking, adding a bit more chicken stock or water can help maintain the perfect consistency.
