Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Garlic Spinach Noodles


When I’m planning meals for the week, the thing I struggle with most is coming up with side dishes – particularly starchy ones. Vegetables are easy, but starches are much harder for me. Usually we have some kind of rice or some kind of potato, but it gets a little bit boring after a while (to me, at least; my husband and sons could eat boxed rice pilaf every day for the rest of their lives and be perfectly happy). When I saw this recipe for garlic spinach noodles, I couldn’t wait to try it. It seemed like a great side dish, and a way to sneak some spinach into my boys’ diet – for which I’m always grateful.

We all really liked these noodles. Their flavor is sweet, tangy, and garlicky – a really nice combination of flavors. Tomorrow I’ll share the chicken I made to go with them.

Garlic Spinach Noodles
adapted from Recipes Straight From the Kowboys Home

8 ounces penne pasta
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse with hot water; drain and keep warm.

2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together chicken broth, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Add spinach to pan along with vinegar mixture; reduce heat to medium-low and cook until spinach is hot. Stir in pasta and heat through. Remove from heat and toss with cheese.

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5 comments:

Unknown said...

looks good!! i would say since you are good at veggies than just do more veggies, starches arent really good for you so you are just so smart in your head to be like what, i cant figure out recipe!

Allison said...

Nice! I also struggle with starches, but our go-tos are plain white rice and plain pasta! lol This will be a good way to kick up the pasta.

4*KowBoys said...

I am glad you were able to try these. They do have a good flavor. I struggle with sides, as well. I was happy when I found this recipe on the back of the bag of noodles to try and share! :o)

Avril said...

Super YUMMY scrumptious pasta dish Cassie!

emealplanner said...

This sounds really good! I might have to double the recipe though... I just can't resist pasta!