Friday, January 4, 2013

Healthy Vegetarian Pasta (for Kav!)

Missy, here. And I'm sorry I have NO photos of the recipe I'm posting! I didn't even think to snap photos until we were done eating. But it was so yummy, I had to share!

To see the original Food Network recipe from Giada De Laurentiis for Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Swiss Chard and Pecorino, click here.

Now, my version with the ingredients I had on hand that I thought MAYBE my children might eat. :)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 bag/container of pre-washed spinach
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • Salt and pepper
  • 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
  • 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

Directions

Cook pasta according to directions.
While water for pasta is coming to a boil, heat oil in skillet and add spinach, cooking a couple of minutes until wilted. Add garlic and cook about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and wine and bring to a simmer. Add olives and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring as needed, until everything is tender. Salt and pepper to taste.
When spaghetti is cooked al dente, drain and toss with the spinach mixture.
Serve topped with cheese and the toasted pine nuts (to toast, just put them dry in a small skillet on medium heat until golden brown).

It turned out delicious. I have to admit, my son took one look at chunks of tomatoes, wilted spinach and olives and said no way was he trying it. :) He ate noodles with parmesan. My daughter took one tiny spoonful on top of a bowl of noodles. Once she took a bite, she said, "This is really good...this tomato crud." She then went back for more.

Hmmm. You tell me. Compliment or not?? ;)

15 comments:

  1. Oh, yummy! I would eat this and I can't even tell what it looks like!

    Sounds delicious!!

    I would say 'looks delicious' but, you know...

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    1. Virginia, click the link and go look at Gianda's. It looks pretty similar. :)

      Actually, I got a photo of it in my email (I'm on all kinds of newsletter lists) and immediately went to look up the recipe. Printed it off and decided to make it for dinner. :)

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  2. LOL "tomato crud"! That poor girl wouldn't survive living at my house. Thanks for this recipe, Missy. It even looks like it's easy and quick enough to make after a looonnng day at work. I'm going to give this a try. :-)

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    1. Yeah, Kav, two of my kids aren't tomato eaters. Although, my daughter is slowly coming around. My middle son has actually started eating supreme pizzas, so I thought there was hope he'd try this. When I told him that, he said that pizza is mostly bread and cheese with a little bit of onion and peppers tossed on top. This pasta wasn't enough bread and cheese for him! LOL

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  3. I can't imagine this combo being bad, and I'm not a spinach gal but I'd eat it with this.

    I love it in spanakopita..... And I love diced maters. That little bit of marinara texture makes me happy! Missy, what a great throw-together gourmet-style meal!

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    1. It really was quick and easy, Ruthy. So easy that it doesn't feel gourmet, even though it looks and tastes like it is. :)

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  4. "Tomato crud"? I think one of my children is living at your house! (They usually don't say it out loud, though, and never ask for seconds.)

    I think this sounds delicious...it's adapting it for my family that's the challenge. Gourmet doesn't go over well around here. It would have to be a single-serving lunch adaptation :)

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    1. Jan, my kids tend to speak their minds, probably times when they shouldn't! :)

      This would be perfect for a lunch. You could use a partial can of tomatoes and store the rest. Or you could go ahead and make all of it and have the leftovers the next day or two.

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  5. yum I'd eat it but college days and prior probably not! what's a pecorino? some kind of pepper? I may have to get cable again so I can watch foodtv LOL! used to watch that and HGTV a lot- had a crush on food 911 back in the day - Tyler - even thought about coming up with a food crisis so he'd come to my house and help me out (didnt' feel like cleaning enough for a tv crew though!) :-)
    Susanna

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    1. oops never mind - it's cheese!
      Susanna

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    2. Susanna, that's a fun show! Especially if you had a crush on Tyler. :)

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    3. yep Tyler was my man - was really mad when they kept putting Bobby Flay on a bunch of shows instead of Tyler..he was too arrogant for me!
      Susanna

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  6. Oh Missy, I would definitely eat this. In fact, I have. I've been making versions of this with spinach or kale for awhile, but I use artichoke pasta instead of whole wheat. I think it's less gluten or something, but I know it doesn't bother me the same way.

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    1. I've never heard of artichoke pasta! Interesting idea!

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    2. BTW, I made more of this pasta today for lunch. Made it with kale. :)

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