Garlic Butter Pasta with Herbs
Create a light and refreshing pasta dish that utilizes everyday pantry ingredients while producing a memorable summer taste!
It is a typical summer night at my house, no one wants to cook, ingredients are limited and the will to go above and beyond is not present…I guess it will be yet another pasta night- But it does not have to be! Today’s post is indeed a pasta recipe, but from before cooking to watching the smiles on my family’s face when they took their first bite I knew all along that this dish was something special.
Butter. Garlic. Fresh Herbs. Need I say more? The beauty of this dish is how it utilizes everyday pantry ingredients and turns it into a tasty, summer dish. Right after the first bite my mother says, “This is a real summery dish.” When I asked her what she means she responds, “You know, it tastes really fresh and light.” Usually my mother is one to think anything her little boy cooks tastes as if I made it when I was 14, which is when I messed up cooking fish (I did not separate the four pieces of cod before putting it into the oven, so only the outside cooked), so it meant a lot hearing her say that she liked a dish of mine.
Let me paint you a story:
5…It slowly starts to slip.
4…As it slides you cannot believe it is actually happening.
3…Your body is frozen due to the shock of knowing what is to come.
2…You see yourself leaping for it, but it’s only then that you realize you did not actually move.
1…Sadness hits you after accepting the harsh reality that is.
0…The spoon falls into the sauce!
If you are like me this happens more often than not and despite all your efforts of getting small plates, or utensil holders, a mess is still made, either on the counter or on your fingers. My one piece is of advice is: Aim for the mess on the fingers because at least this way you can lick it off! Nothing made me happier than knowing the butter that the spoon fell into would just result in my licking of my fingers after fishing the spoon out of the sea of buttery goodness.
Don't mind me, just farming at my local grocery store!
When I first read this recipe I rubbed my eyes and read it over a few more times just to make sure I read the correct amount of butter the recipe called for. To me, something so buttery should have tasted very dense, I can only think of fried foods and mac & cheese when I think of that much butter, but to my pleasant surprise it was lighter than expected; best of all, the combination of spinach and basil worked very well together. Remember, mix well then serve!
To make this pasta dish into more of a meal serve with chicken and a salad. I happened to grill my chicken on the grill and made a salad tossed with goat cheese, nuts and cranberries!
Garlic Butter Pasta with Herbs
Ingredients
1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti
6 tablespoons butter + more for serving
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 large bunch basil, chopped
1 large bunch baby spinach, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese for topping
Instructions
1. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, heat the butter together in a large nonstick skillet over medium low heat. Add the minced garlic and saute for 3-5 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Be careful not to burn or over-brown the garlic because it will taste bitter. Low and slow is the winner here.
3. Chop the spinach and basil (I had about 5 cups total - it reduces quite a bit as it wilts) into small bite-sized pieces and add to the skillet, stirring for just a minute or two to get the greens softened slightly. Season with salt.
4. Add the spaghetti to the skillet (or vice versa depending on pan size) and season with salt and pepper. Toss well to combine and let it all rest for a few minutes to stick together a bit.
5. Serve with an additional pat of butter and/or fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
~Recipe from pinchofyum
Posted by Efrain on: 8/1/14
Looking for another light & refreshing pasta dish?
Why not try an Easy Pasta Primavera?