Garlicky Pasta with Greens is a comfort food favorite of mine. Plus it’s an absolutely delicious and healthy way to enjoy lots of good-for-you greens!
[Post Updated: 4/15/19] – It’s a short hectic week for me. Full days of therapy for one kiddo, and packing up the other kiddo for a trip with me! With so much going on, meals this week are fast, healthy, and fuss-free. This garlicky pasta is a winner because it only has 5 ingredients and comes together in about 7 minutes!
I have this weird tradition that was born on a lazy home-alone night with little in my fridge. Whenever the hubs is out, pasta and/or salmon is always for dinner for me and the girls!
To me pasta and pizza are the ultimate comfort foods. But since the hubs loves pizza almost as much as I do, I try not to enjoy it without him. Pasta on the other hand has become my go-to home-alone meal!
I often feel that pasta is one of those dishes that can either leave you feeling light or heavy. Often times at restaurants, I feel heavy after ordering pasta. I mean it’s delicious but man it’s filling! At home, I like keeping pasta light and veggie packed. Isn’t a bowl of pasta the perfect vehicle for veggies?
Last weekend for example, while the hubs was away, the girls and I got ready for a fun pasta night. Since the girls were keeping me plenty busy, Garlicky Pasta with Greens was a total winner.
Here is the star line-up:
- some sort of dark green
- lemon
- thin spaghetti
- garlic
- olive oil
5 simple ingredients that you probably already have…right? (It’s OK if you don’t have any greens, no judgment). My favorite greens to use for this recipe are either baby kale or mixed greens. I’ve also made this recipe with spinach and it’s fab!
Pasta-wise I love Trader Joe’s capellini or angel hair pasta because it’s so light and only takes 3 minutes to cook. The sauce itself comes together with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and a bit of reserved pasta water.
Anything else you add to the pasta is bonus! Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, bacon, cooked asparagus or sauteed mushroom are all good bonus ingredients.
The result is a hearty comforting bowl of pasta loaded with good for you greens. It’s the perfect type of meal to eat in a big bowl on the couch with a glass of white wine while you watch your favorite show. Or in my case with kids running around, while watching the Minion movie for the 100th time. But hey it’s still the perfect meal.
I should add that my kids prefer the garlicky pasta sans the veggies, which is fine with me. 1 pot of pasta= 3 dinners 😉
Pasta Night when Dada is away is one of those little traditions that was born on a lazy nights with an empty fridge, and I hope to keep it going with my 2 girls. Isn’t that what life is all about? Creating memorable experiences with your loved ones? And if that experience happens to involve pasta, it’s definitely a keeper.
Equipment
- [amazon text=Best Affordable Non-Stick Pan&asin=B0170TFNXM]
Yields Serves 2 large portions
Ingredients
- 2 handfuls of dark greens, washed and thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 pound capellini or thin spaghetti
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Cherry tomatoes (optional)
- Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper for serving
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain pasta.
- Add 1/4 cup of the olive oil to a large skillet and set to medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Stir in the mixed greens, lemon zest and cherry tomatoes (if using). Cook until greens are tender and wilted (3 minutes).
- Add the pasta, lemon juice and season with salt, pepper and a pinch of crushed red peppers. Taste and add more lemon juice if needed. Stir in enough of the reserved cooking water to moisten the pasta as necessary.
Notes
Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, bacon, cooked asparagus or sauteed mushroom are all good bonus ingredients. Use gluten-free pasta if necessary.
Recipe slightly adapted from Bon Appetit.
Originally posted 2019-04-15 14:20:00.
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