Spinach and Garlic Spaghetti with Pecorino | Love and Olive Oil (2025)

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January 10, 2013 by Lindsay Landis

Spinach and Garlic Spaghetti with Pecorino | Love and Olive Oil (1)

Sometimes I wonder what you guys think of me.

This chick must live on sugar. She must eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

And sure, I may have posted desserts for the last 42 days straight.

Sorry about that (but you know you liked it).

Here, have some spinach.

Spinach and Garlic Spaghetti with Pecorino | Love and Olive Oil (2)

This is a typical weeknight meal for us. Mix a carb/pasta/grain with some sort of vegetation and call it dinner. I have to say I think Taylor nailed this one, the salty pecorino and spicy red pepper flakes the perfect compliment to the lightly sauteed spinach that practically melts in your mouth.

Yes, I did just describe spinach as melt-in-your-mouth.

What’s gotten in to me?

But seriously folks, it’s that good. And the fact that it is so simple makes it even better. You could use whole wheat pasta too if you were so inclined, but, well, that’s just pushing it for me. I mean, spinach! Popeye would love me right now. And not just because my name is Olive Oil (clearly it was meant to be).

Yield: 5 servings

Spinach and Garlic Spaghetti with Pecorino

Total Time: 35 minutes

55 stars (from 1 reviews)

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Spinach and Garlic Spaghetti with Pecorino | Love and Olive Oil (3)

Ingredients:

1 pound spaghetti
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
6 ounces fresh baby spinach
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces Pecorino or Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

Prepare pasta according to package directions; strain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.

Heat oil in a large saute pan set over medium heat; add garlic, red pepper flakes, and Italian herbs and stir until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add spinach, and toss until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Add pasta to pan with spinach mixture and toss to coat, adding reserved cooking liquid 1/4 cup at a time as needed. Transfer to serving plates; top generously with Pecorino cheese and serve.

All images and text ©Lindsay Landis / Love & Olive Oil

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Main Dishes Pasta Quick

posted January 10, 2013

36 Comments »

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Leave a Reply

36 Comments

  1. Tara March 2, 2024 at 4:40 pm Reply

    Rating: 5

    Just made this for lunch with whole wheat rotini, and it was yummy! Thank you

  2. juju bou February 8, 2013 at 12:15 pm Reply

    Delicious! And I’m eating some while righting that! I’m fifteen, I love cooking and this is simple enough for me!

  3. Jeff from The Empty Spoon January 30, 2013 at 8:30 pm Reply

    Love the simplicity of this.

  4. juegosjuegos January 18, 2013 at 2:35 am Reply

    Fantastico libro de cocina, espero que saques mas

    lo compraré

  5. Mari January 17, 2013 at 11:34 am Reply

    perfect – just what i’m in the mood for!

  6. caitlin January 17, 2013 at 11:34 am Reply

    congrats on the new book!

  7. Auntie Sally January 14, 2013 at 10:57 pm Reply

    Was the Pecorino from Pienza by any chance?

  8. Arthur in the Garden! January 14, 2013 at 2:58 pm Reply

    I know what is for dinner tonight!

  9. Karen A January 12, 2013 at 9:56 pm Reply

    So simple, yet delicious!

  10. Kari@Loaves n Dishes January 12, 2013 at 8:10 pm Reply

    Our favorite pasta dishes are always the simplest. This pasta would totally be a hit at my house.

  11. Teresa January 11, 2013 at 12:35 pm Reply

    I am going to make this for Kurt this weekend as trying to get the caveman to eat vegetarian a couple nights a week. Thinking of you guys!
    :) The Step-momster in law

  12. Jen @ Jen's Favorite Cookies January 11, 2013 at 10:43 am Reply

    I’m into this meal! I really love spinach, and I have a total weakness for pasta.

  13. Christine @ Cooking with Cakes January 11, 2013 at 8:52 am Reply

    When I’m working with spinach I always squeeze a little lemon juice into my recipe – it really brings out the spinach’s flavor and adds the perfect hint of tang, esp for a pasta dish!

  14. Julia January 10, 2013 at 7:53 pm Reply

    This looks delicious! I am loving new pasta dishes now that it is winter. Can’t wait to try this out.

  15. Eileen January 10, 2013 at 6:09 pm Reply

    Well,spinach *is* melt-in-your-mouth, so…yeah. :) This pasta looks great!

  16. Kirsten@ My Kitchen in the Rockies January 10, 2013 at 5:43 pm Reply

    My Husband would say: Pasta = Carbs= Sugar = Dessert.
    I don’t mind your dessert recipes at all and LOVE pasta any day of the week. This looks to me like a fast and delicious weeknight dinner.

  17. seriously sassy mama January 10, 2013 at 3:22 pm Reply

    I love pasta like this. This is so going on next weeks menu.

  18. shelly (cookies and cups) January 10, 2013 at 12:55 pm Reply

    This is fantastic! Melt in your mouth spinach? I’m in.

  19. Jacqueline January 10, 2013 at 12:42 pm Reply

    I laughed out loud when you said “Here have some spinach”. Glad there was no one about. This is just the type of pasta I love.

  20. Bev @ Bev Cooks January 10, 2013 at 12:35 pm Reply

    Yeah I’m pretty much in lust with this.

  21. Angie January 10, 2013 at 12:21 pm Reply

    This looks delicious!

  22. Averie @ Averie Cooks January 10, 2013 at 12:01 pm Reply

    The first photo needs to be on the cover of a magazine! Stunning, Lindsay!

  23. Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) January 10, 2013 at 11:32 am Reply

    I love nice little simple meals like this :)

  24. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar January 10, 2013 at 10:14 am Reply

    This looks unreal! Great weeknight idea!

  25. Christina @ The Beautiful Balance January 10, 2013 at 10:03 am Reply

    Simple and fresh. Love this.

  26. Brandi @ new 30 something January 10, 2013 at 10:01 am Reply

    This dish looks great! I made an Ina dish with pecorino and it was good but this looks even better. YUM!

  27. Brie @ Entrée the Giant January 10, 2013 at 9:46 am Reply

    So simple, yet so satisfying – and, yes – Popeye would be proud :)

  28. Jess @ OnSugarMountain January 10, 2013 at 9:46 am Reply

    I wouldn’t have minded if you posted dessert 43 straight days in a row :) BUT I have to admit, this pasta does look amazing, and simple. I could work this into my weekly routine at college for sure.

  29. Nora January 10, 2013 at 9:38 am Reply

    Ah, I’m with you here on the dessert thing. I just find it so much more photogenic and enticing. And savoury is just harder to make look apetizing on a picture (OK, I’m also a sweet tooth I admit!). Having said that, I do like to glean savoury dishes from blogs from time to time and this pasta dish just looks too good and easy to miss!

  30. Maria January 10, 2013 at 9:37 am Reply

    WOW I’m going to add that to my recipe book! It sounds like the perfect meal to me!

  31. Erica Lea | Cooking for Seven January 10, 2013 at 9:33 am Reply

    This looks so simple and good! A nice, lighter supper for after a weekend of dissipation in the food department (or in preparation for that event), eh? Lovely, enticing photos, BTW. :)

  32. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) January 10, 2013 at 9:32 am Reply

    This is such a lovely yet simple dish. I feel like spinach and garlic are the best combo in cooking right now.

  33. Alison @ ingredients, Inc. January 10, 2013 at 9:27 am Reply

    looks awesome

  34. Aimee @ ShugarySweets January 10, 2013 at 9:17 am Reply

    So pretty! Going on our menu!! Thanks for sharing!

  35. Beth January 10, 2013 at 9:10 am Reply

    Mmm, that looks great. (Not that I might 42 days of dessert…)

    • Beth January 10, 2013 at 9:11 am Reply

      whoops, “mind” 42 days of dessert, not might. :)

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Spinach and Garlic Spaghetti with Pecorino | Love and Olive Oil (2025)
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