Pasta Fresca
We’ve crafted our very own version of the slightly sweet and savory dish – Pasta Fresca from Noodles & Company. This copycat recipe brings together the beloved fresh flavors of juicy tomatoes, vibrant spinach with tender penne pasta sautéd in a light white wine sauce.
What we love about pasta fresca
- We always loved going to Noodles & Co. to get this entree from our favorite pasta chain. Its unique, tangy flavor combined with ample amounts of fresh vegetables can’t be beat.
- Stir frying this dish caramelizes the sauce into the pasta and adds a seared crisp to the exterior in a truly unique way that enhances the flavors and texture of the pasta.
Here’s what you’ll need to make it
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- Penne pasta
- Roma tomatoes
- Fresh spinach leaves
- Red onion
- Balsamic vinegar
- White wine
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
How to make this pasta fresca recipe
Cook the pasta. In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta 2 minutes less than the package directions indicate for al denté. This will allow the pasta to absorb more of the sauce and prevent it from breaking as it is stir fried in the last step.
When pasta is done cooking, reserve ½ cup of pasta water, drain and set aside.
Sauté the veggies. Heat olive oil in the hot pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, stirring occasionally until onions have softened. Stir in balsamic vinegar, white wine and tomatoes. Continue to sauté until tomatoes have softened, or about 2 minutes.
Stir fry the pasta. Return the pasta to the pot and add spinach, salt and parsley, stirring until everything is evenly coated in sauce. Continue to stir until the pasta has browned slightly and spinach has wilted.
Garnish and serve. Sprinkle shredded or shaved parmesan cheese over pasta before serving.
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Pasta Fresca
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
We’ve crafted our very own version of the slightly sweet and savory dish – Pasta Fresca from Noodles & Company. This copycat recipe brings together the beloved fresh flavors of juicy tomatoes, vibrant spinach with tender penne pasta sautéd in a light white wine sauce.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tomatoes
- ½ red onion
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 2 tablespoons white wine
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- Shredded or shaved parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions, to al denté. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in the same pot. When the oil is hot add garlic and onion, cooking until onions have become tender.
- Stir in balsamic vinegar, white wine and tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally until tomatoes have softened.
- Return the pasta to the pot and stir to combine.
- Add spinach, parsley and salt, again stirring to help the spinach to wilt.
- Stir fry for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
- Garnish with shredded parmesan and serve.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Penne
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 314
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 624.7 mg
- Fat: 8.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 49.4 g
- Fiber: 3.5 g
- Protein: 9.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0.9 mg
This tastes just like Noodles & CO! I love that I can make this at home now!