Spaghetti with Spinach, Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

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Tossing the cooked spaghetti with some of the reserved pasta cooking water and fresh goat cheese produces a light, tangy and luxurious sauce. Melissa Rubel Jacobson also likes making this dish with whole-wheat spaghetti. Plus:  More Pasta Recipes 

Spaghetti with Spinach, Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
Photo: © Helene Dujardin
Total Time:
30 mins
Yield:
4

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound spaghetti

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

  • Pinch of crushed red pepper

  • 1 cup grape tomatoes (6 ounces), halved

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 8 cups baby spinach (7 ounces)

  • 1/4 cup freshly grated pecorino cheese, plus more for serving

  • 4 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled (1 cup)

Directions

  1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti until it is al dente. Drain the spaghetti well, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.

  2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook over moderate heat until the garlic is tender, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat until the tomatoes begin to release their juices, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.

  3. Add the spaghetti, the reserved 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water and the 1/4 cup of pecorino to the skillet and toss over low heat until the pasta is coated with the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Add the goat cheese and toss gently. Transfer the spaghetti to shallow bowls and serve, passing additional grated pecorino cheese at the table.

Suggested Pairing

Zesty Sauvignon Blanc, such as one from New Zealand.

Originally appeared: February 2008

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