Description
A creamy and flavorful linguine pasta tossed with a sun-dried tomato and spinach cream sauce, enriched with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for a satisfying vegetarian main course.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz linguine
Sauce
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Vegetables and Herbs
- 6 oz spinach
- 5 basil leaves fresh, finely chopped
Other
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook linguine according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat Oil and Sauté: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds while stirring constantly to release their flavors.
- Add Liquids and Seasonings: Pour in 1 cup half-and-half, then add paprika and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer.
- Incorporate Cheese: Add ½ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese to the simmering sauce and stir continuously for about 30 seconds or until the cheese has melted. Gradually add the remaining cheese if the sauce is too thin, stirring continuously for a couple more minutes. If the sauce becomes too thick, add more half-and-half to adjust consistency.
- Wilt Spinach: Add the 6 oz of spinach to the sauce, stirring on medium heat until the spinach is wilted, approximately 1 minute.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked and drained linguine to the sauce, stirring well to ensure the pasta is fully coated.
- Final Seasoning and Garnish: Taste the pasta and add more salt if needed. Top with finely chopped fresh basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- Half-and-half is a dairy product made of equal parts whole milk and heavy cream; you can substitute 1 cup of half-and-half with ½ cup whole milk plus ½ cup heavy cream.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding more half-and-half if it becomes too thick or more Parmesan cheese if it is too thin.
- Use fresh basil leaves to maximize aroma and flavor when garnishing.
- For a richer flavor, use full-fat dairy products.
- Make sure to stir continuously when adding cheese to prevent clumping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
