Spinach One-Pot Pasta

By Yasmin Fahr

Published July 22, 2024

Spinach One-Pot Pasta
Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(1,390)
Comments
Read comments

This shockingly simple dish achieves success thanks to a small yet mighty powerhouse: Salty, umami-rich anchovies melt into the cooking oil, giving the dish subtle complexity and oomph. This pasta uses only a few ingredients and just one pot, and the method is smart and streamlined: As you boil your pasta, you set your spinach in a colander then drain the cooked pasta directly on top. You’ll dissolve the anchovies in olive oil in the empty pot, then return the cooked pasta and wilted spinach to the pot, along with cheese and red-pepper flakes, stirring to form a glossy sauce that is aided by the moisture released by the spinach. A great back-pocket recipe for nights when prep work seems impossible, this recipe is a satisfying meal all on its own, but feel free to stir in some white beans if you’d like to bulk it up.

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • Salt
  • 12ounces short-shaped pasta, such as orecchiette or fusilli
  • 1pound mature spinach, tough ends trimmed, or about 1¼ pounds (two 10-ounce bags) baby spinach
  • Olive oil
  • 4 to 6oil-packed anchovies, depending on preference
  • ¾cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnishing, if desired
  • ¼teaspoon red-pepper flakes
  • 1lemon, halved
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

498 calories; 13 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 71 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 26 grams protein; 608 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and adjust the heat to maintain a gentle boil. Cook until just shy of al dente, about 1 minute less than the package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water.

  2. Step 2

    Place the spinach in a large colander in the sink. Drain the pasta over the spinach. Drizzle with oil and stir to prevent the noodles from sticking.

  3. Step 3

    Wipe out the pot and place over medium-high heat. Carefully add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the anchovies (it might splatter) and stir until they start to dissolve, about 30 seconds.

  4. Step 4

    Pour the pasta and spinach into the pot, add the cheese and red-pepper flakes and stir until a glossy sauce forms and the spinach fully wilts, 1 to 2 minutes. If the pasta looks dry, add the reserved pasta water 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time. Use two forks to separate any spinach clumps, if needed.

  5. Step 5

    Squeeze a lemon half over everything. Taste and season as needed with more salt or lemon. Garnish with more cheese, if desired.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

4 out of 5
1,390 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

Name winifred

Delicious! Couldn’t taste the anchovies and I used 6. Total clumpfest with the spinach. What if instead of draining the pasta over the spinach you threw the spinach into the pasta pot before you drain the pasta, gave it a good stir and drained the pasta and spinach together?

Kathy

Sounds easy & tasty....but I can not eat anchovies. Any suggestions for a substitute?

Krista

Kathy, ume paste (Japanese fermented plum paste) is my favorite vegetarian anchovy substitute.

Patrick

Meh. Bland. If I made it again I’d double anchovies, cheese, and red peppers.

Sarah

Nope. I made this recipe as written and didn’t like it at all. If you don’t think you like anchovies - or know you don’t - trust that feeling and just keep scrolling. Don’t believe the “you don’t taste the anchovies” crowd. I wish I hadn’t.

Adjustments

I added the spinach on top of the boiling water which helped cook it down tremendously. I also added a bit of garlic and butter to oil so it wouldn’t burn before I added the anchovies. This made it particularly delicious. The pasta water is a non-negotiable, you have to add it for this dish to work.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.