Pasta is arguably the most popular Italian dish across the world. In this recipe we blend both Pasta and Spinach to get a new savoury flavour. If you struggle to make your kids consume spinach in regular dishes, this pasta can get your kids to eat spinach due to the juicy pasta and its seasoning. The process is short and easy. You can also bake your pasta for a crunchy texture(optional).
Ingredients:
- 1 cup- Bowties Pasta (you can take any shape whichever u like)
- 2 cups- Baby Spinach (washed)
- 1½ tea spoon- Corn flour/ all purpose flour/ whole wheat flour
- 6,8- Garlic cloves (finely chopped)
- 1 table spoon- Butter
- 1 table spoon- Olive Oil
- 1 cup- Milk
- ½ cup- Mozzarella cheese (Grated)
- Italian herbs/ Oregano
- Black pepper
- Red chilli flakes
- Salt (as per taste)
Method :
- Take a pan, bring plenty of water to boil. Add spinach and boil for another 2 minutes, now take out the spinach with a help of strainer in a grinding pot. Grind the boiled spinach into a paste and keep it aside.
- Now add salt and 2 teaspoons of oil to the same water that was used for boiling the spinach. Then slowly add the pasta and boil till the pasta becomes soft (but intact without getting broken). Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking together. After it is boiled, drain it in a strainer and pour cold water on it (This is done to prevent it from getting over boiled further). And keep the boiled pasta aside.
- Take the remaining oil and Butter together in a pan and heat. Once heated, add chopped Garlic and sauté for a few minutes then add corn flour and stir it continuously. Sauté till it changes colour slightly. Then add spinach paste and cook for 1 minute and add grated cheese, salt, black pepper powder, Italian herbs and chilli flakes as per taste and mix well. Then add milk gently and stir continuously with a whisk to prevent formation of lumps. Bring it to boil, reduce the flame, cook for another few minutes, till it thickens slightly (If it is too thick, you can add the water reserved while cooking pasta and heat again). Your spinach sauce is ready.
- Add boiled pasta in spinach sauce and mix gently. Cover the pan for 3 to 5 minutes on low flame (this way pasta will absorb the flavours). Garnish your pasta with grated cheese and serve hot.
- You can also bake your pasta if you like. Check my White Sauce Pasta recipe for instructions on baking of pasta.
