Satisfy your pasta craving and enjoy mulitple health benefits all in one tasty Meditteranean-inspired dish!
Sometimes I come home after a long day and want a comforting bowl of pasta. However, spending hours in the kitchen simmering a rich, savory sauce doesn’t always work for me. This Mediterranean-Style Greek Pasta recipe allows me to indulge my pasta craving without toiling over the stovetop for hours. It’s satisfying and feels like a cheat meal, but without all the guilt that sometimes comes with a heavy pasta sauce. It’s simple, elegant, and, best of all, a breeze to make!
A simple and versatile Greek-style pasta that’s ready in minutes!
This Greek pasta dish can be changed up to use any kind of pasta. When preparing this dish for kids, I like to make it fun by using a shaped pasta such as farfalle (a.k.a. “bow-tie”), fusilli (corkscrew), or shells. Add a pop of color by using a spinach or veggie based pasta, like a tri-colored penne. Add some whole grains by using a whole wheat pasta. Or finally, you can make it gluten free with a rice-based pasta or paleo/Whole30 compliant with veggie spirals or roasted spaghetti squash. If you’re unsure how to use a spiralizer, you can find step by step instructions in this post.
Versatile and good for your health in many ways:
This Mediterranean-Style Greek Pasta dish also uses nutritious vegetables that not only make your plate beautiful but also have many health benefits. First of all, tomatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidents. Second, you will find that red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, are a great source of lycopene, which is beneficial for a healthy heart. Finally, if the first two benefits aren’t enough incentive for you to love tomatoes, you can also enjoy the following:
- Healthier Vision
- Healthier Skin, Bones, Teeth and Hair
- Reduced Hypertension
- Reduced Oxidative Stress of Type 2 Diabetes
- Prevention of Constipation and Diarrhea
These are just a few of the health benefits of adding tomatoes to recipes such as this Greek Pasta dish.
You can reap many more benefits by eating leafy greens such as spinach, and by enjoying the garlic in this recipe. Spinach provides you with CoQ10, lutein, and Vitamin K, to name a few. Garlic has cancer prevention properties and aids in maintaining a healthy weight and blood glucose levels.
All of these healthy vegetables, tossed with a good quality olive oil, are the makings of a light, flavor-packed pasta sauce. Enjoy it in good health!
Mediterranean-Style Greek Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound whole-wheat spaghetti pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion small, diced
- 2 cups spinach leaves fresh
- 3 garlic cloves sliced
- 1 beefsteak tomato large, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup feta cheese fat-free, crumbled
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water to boil in a medium pot.
- Add 1 teaspoon salt and pasta to water. Boil uncovered until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.
- Drain pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat until hot, but not smoking.
- Add onions and garlic to skillet. Cook, stirring often, just until onions begin to soften.
- Add diced tomatoes and spinach. Stir, cover and let simmer for 5 minutes or until spinach is heated through and just begins to wilt.
- Stir in pasta and reserved pasta water. Cover and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- Serve hot, warm or cold.
- Garnish with feta immediately before serving.
Nutrition Information
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