$Hearty strands of linguine mingle with vibrant green spinach leaves and a sprinkling of crumbled feta cheese, set against a backdrop of spicy tomato sauce and a medley of red, yellow, and green bell peppers. Garnished with a sprig of fresh cilantro.$

Tex-Mex Spinach Linguine Extravanza

Name: Tex-Mex Spinach Linguine Extravanza
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients: fresh spinach, 4 Cups washed and drained; Linguine Pasta, 500 grams uncooked; Olive Oil, 3 Tbsp; Garlic cloves, 3 minced; Red Onion, 1 medium diced; Red Bell Pepper, 1 diced; Yellow Bell Pepper, 1 diced; Green Bell Pepper, 1 diced; large tomatoes, 2 diced; Red Chili Flakes, 1 tsp adjust as per taste; Ground Cumin, 1 tsp; Smoked Paprika, 1/2 tsp; Dried Oregano, 1/2 tsp; Feta Cheese, 60 grams crumbled; Fresh Cilantro, 1 handful roughly chopped for garnish; Lime, 1 cut into wedges for serving; Salt, To Taste; Pepper, To Taste

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 25 minutes

Style Fusion

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: January 27, 2025

This recipe marries familiar Tex-Mex flavors with wholesome spinach and hearty pasta. It's a vibrant, robust dish that'll keep you comfy in winter, and it’s sure to put a unique spin on your pasta nights!

Ingredients (for 4)

Fresh spinach - 4 Cups - washed and drained
Linguine pasta - 500 grams - uncooked
Olive oil - 3 Tbsp
Garlic cloves - 3 - minced
Red onion - 1 medium - diced
Red bell pepper - 1 - diced
Yellow bell pepper - 1 - diced
Green bell pepper - 1 - diced
Large tomatoes - 2 - diced
Red chili flakes - 1 tsp - adjust as per taste
Ground cumin - 1 tsp
Smoked paprika - 1/2 tsp
Dried oregano - 1/2 tsp
Feta cheese - 60 grams - crumbled
Fresh cilantro - 1 handful - roughly chopped for garnish
Lime - 1 - cut into wedges for serving
Salt - To Taste
Pepper - To Taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍝🧂💦

Boil the linguine pasta in salted water, in accordance to the package instructions, until it is al dente.
Step 2 - 🍳🧅🔥

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté garlic and onions until they become translucent.
Step 3 - 🍅🫑🥘

To the sautéed onion and garlic, add the diced bell peppers and continue to sauté until they are slightly tender.
Step 4 - 🌶️🍅🍃

Add the diced tomatoes, chili flakes, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and dried oregano to the pan and let it simmer for around 5-7 minutes.
Step 5 - 🌱🥘👩‍🍳

Include the fresh spinach into the pan. Stir until it wilts and all the ingredients are well mixed together.
Step 6 - 🍝🌶️🍅

After draining the cooked pasta, save about 1 cup of the pasta water. Then, add the pasta to the vegetable mixture.
Step 7 - 🥘🍽️💧

Toss everything together while gradually adding the saved pasta water until your sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Step 8 - 🧂🧂

Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 9 - 🧀🌱🍋

Serve your meal hot, garnished with crumbled feta cheese, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Additional

Feel free to add some grilled chicken or roasted veggies to make it more hearty. Kids can help with washing the veggies, stirring the sauce, and garnishing the dish. This dish is an excellent opportunity to introduce them to Tex-Mex flavors. You can also use whole grain pasta for more fiber.