Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

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To achieve flavor quickly in this sun-dried tomato pasta recipe, we use the oil from sun-dried tomatoes to create the base of the cream sauce. Meanwhile, the residual heat of the pasta wilts the spinach in record time for a fast weeknight dinner.

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
4

Tips for Perfect Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

This creamy sun-dried tomato pasta recipe has whole-wheat spaghetti, spinach and Parmesan cheese tossed in a flavorful sauce. It only takes 20 minutes to make, which means it's perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.

Wilting the Spinach

A quick technique for wilting the spinach is to place it in a colander and drain the cooked spaghetti over it. The residual heat from the spaghetti wilts the spinach without overcooking it.

Choosing the Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Look for oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Not only are the sun-dried tomatoes packed with flavor, we also use some of the flavorful oil from the jar to cook the onions, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic as the base for the cream sauce.

To Make This Vegetarian, Use Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth

We use either low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth in this recipe, but to make this recipe vegetarian, use vegetable broth.

Additional reporting by Jan Valdez

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces baby spinach, coarsely chopped

  • 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti

  • ½ cup slivered oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, plus 1 tablespoon oil from the jar

  • ½ cup halved and thinly sliced onion

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

  • ½ cup sour cream

  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions

  1. Place spinach in a large colander in the sink. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Drain the pasta over the spinach; toss to wilt the spinach.

  2. Meanwhile, heat sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sun-dried tomatoes; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high and add broth; cook, stirring, until reduced by about half, about 2 minutes. Stir in sour cream, Parmesan and butter. Add the spaghetti and spinach; toss to coat well.

    Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce (tk final title)
    Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

380 Calories
16g Fat
51g Carbs
13g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 1 1/4 cups
Calories 380
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 51g 19%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 13g 26%
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 26mg 9%
Vitamin A 2763IU 55%
Sodium 330mg 14%
Potassium 587mg 12%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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