wonderful and easy recipe from the CL recipe search!!

[Wendy w]

I tried this recipe and posted a review from the recipe search about 2 weeks ago and absolutely loved it.

I decided to repost and add the recipe. If you love Mediterranean style food as I do, you shouldn't miss it. This was extremely easy and should make a great warm weather dish. The most difficult part was cooking the penne and chopping the spinach http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif .

Penne with Spinach, Feta, and Olives
Substitute with ziti, rigatoni, or any other medium-sized pasta; use other types of olives instead of kalamatas for a less intense flavor.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 garlic cloves, crushed
6 cups hot cooked penne (about 12 ounces uncooked tube-shaped pasta)
2 cups chopped spinach
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
2 tablespoons capers
3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese

Directions
Estimated Total Time: 30 minutes
Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Add pasta, spinach, olives, capers, and cheese; toss well.


[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 03-29-2001).]

[Hoosier65]

This sounds great, thanks for posting it. I'll give it a try. What's not to like?

[lindrusso]

I second Wendy's review. If you like this dish, try the Pasta with Asiago Cheese and Spinach - it's from the same "pasta toss" article which I believe appeared in the May 1998 issue. It is also very easy and delicious and can be found through the recipe search.

[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 03-29-2001).]

[hsvaughan]

This sounds easy and excellent!! Do you serve this cold or warm?

[Missi]

I made this recipe last night!! I used cheese tortellini instead of penne, left out the olives (DH hates them) and added half a can of diced tomatoes. It was SOOO easy and good. Definate thumbs up!

[Tiger]

Thanks Wendy- just when I'm looking for no-meat recipes! (lent season)
My husband hates olives too, but I love them. I guess I'm not as nice as Missi, he'll just have to pick aroung them!

[valchemist]

I saw some reviews from a while back on these recipes and a similar one (in all of which the spinach isn't cooked beforehand but is instead wilted with the hot pasta). A couple people noted that they would have preferred the spinach to be a bit more cooked. One person sauteed the spinach ahead of time and another suggested draining the pasta into a collander containing the spinach.

Just wondering if anyone else who tried this thought that the spinach could have been a bit more cooked.

Valerie

p.s. a third recipe that is very similar to these both is called cavatappi with spinach, beans, and asiago cheese. It is from April 1997.

[lindrusso]

hsvaughn - If you serve this right away, it will be a bit warm, but it is fine at room temp. as well - that makes this dish nice for pot lucks as well.