EatCheapEatWell
  • Home
  • SHOP
  • Life/Budget/Household Stuff
  • Food and Meal Blog
  • About
  • Home
  • SHOP
  • Life/Budget/Household Stuff
  • Food and Meal Blog
  • About

Pasta With Tomato, Spinach and Feta

5/12/2016

 
Quick Pasta with Spinach and Feta Cheese
This is one of the quickest recipes in my repertoire. I first started cooking it when we lived in New York City, and my long commute and work hours meant I often did not get home before 7:30 pm.

​I wasn’t nearly as organized then as I am now, so I didn’t always plan ahead as well as I could and take the week’s schedule into consideration when deciding my menus, but this was one recipe I knew I could fall back on if I really ran into a time crunch.  It's fast and easy, and very tasty besides.
​The ingredients are all staples that I learned to keep on hand, so I could pretty much count on finding what I needed, even if I had not specifically planned for this recipe.

​Of course, in those days, there was no way we could have afforded feta cheese, so that was a later addition to the recipe. The wide availability and choice we now have for such specialty foods is astounding compared to those days. It was truly a different world.
 
Things were so tight for us back then that my Christmas, birthday, or special occasion gift to my husband was sometimes a package of his beloved Greek olives and cheese. They were a rare treat indeed, and quite an indulgence. 
Global trade may be controversial because of job losses, but I count the diversification of American grocery store offerings as one benefit. Young people today cannot begin to imagine how much it has changed.
 
Of course, while the variety and competition have pushed the prices of some specialty foods down to a somewhat more affordable level, they are still pricier than “regular” fare, and the incredible range of new choices now also serves as a temptation to spend more on these gourmet products than our budgets can often afford. 

I recommend using these kinds of foods only very sparingly, and ONLY when they’re on sale. 
 
As I’ve written in previous blogs, there are a couple of ways I save money when planning for this recipe or others that use similar ingredients.  

​For example, I use frozen, chopped spinach because I can get it much cheaper by the pound than the fresh. When it goes on sale, I stock up on it and keep several boxes or bags in my freezer. 
Quick Pasta With Spinach and Feta Cheese
Boxed wine
Sometimes it’s possible to find a bargain on mature, fresh spinach, which is usually substantially cheaper than baby spinach. Once cooked, there is no noticeable difference, so by all means go ahead and buy this variety if you find it cheaper. Wash the greens in a large bowl of water a couple of times before adding them to the recipe. Change the water for each washing. 
 
As I’ve already mentioned, I buy feta only when it’s on sale. I also usually buy it in brick form, rather than pre-crumbled. That alone can cut $2 or more from the cost of a pound of the cheese. I also use it in small amounts, mostly as a flavor accent, to keep costs down. 

 
And as far as the wine in the recipe goes, I certainly do not use an expensive bottle of pinot grigio in my cooking. Instead, I purchase the cheapest wine I can find and use that. Usually, that’s the boxed version, or the kind that comes in jugs that you can find in most wine stores. I avoid the wine sold as “cooking wine” in most grocery stores. It is laden with salt and pricier than what you can get at a wine store.  
 
And, of course, I buy my canned legumes when they go on sale and stock up on some extra cans when they do. You can also save even more money by using dried legumes and cooking them from scratch. I recommend using a pressure cooker when you do that so you can have them ready in about half an hour, using less electricity and cooking fuel to boot.
 
Here’s the recipe:

Quick Pasta with Spinach and Feta Cheese
Pasta with Tomato, Spinach and Feta
Makes approximately 8 hearty servings
(Freezes very well)
Prep Time – Approx. 20 minutes
Start to Finish Time – Approx. 30 minutes
Total Recipe Cost – Approx. $10.50
Total per person meal cost with tossed salad and garlic bread - Approx. $2.00
Ingredients:
3-4 cups whole grain pasta - (the amount will depend on the size of the pasta - smaller ones like elbows will call for the smaller amount, while larger ones like rotelle or ziti will generally call for the bigger amount.)
1 medium onion
3 cloves garlic
1 package (10-16 ounces) frozen, chopped spinach
2-3  cans of chick peas, 14-16 ounce size
1 29-32 ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes 
2 tablespoons oil
½ cup red wine (optional)
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ cup feta or Parmesan cheese

Recipe continues after photos.
 Procedure:
  1. Put on water to boil over high heat in a large, covered pot.
  2. Thaw the frozen spinach in the microwave in a microwavable container or in its microwavable box, and set aside to drain in a colander.
  3. Peel and dice the onion. 
  4. Peel and chop the 3 cloves of garlic.
  5. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in large frying pan or pot over medium heat for about one minute. Add the diced onion to the oil and cook, stirring often, for about 5-7 minutes or until it is becoming translucent.  Add the garlic to the onions and cook about 1 minute more, stirring frequently.
  6. Add the 29-32-ounce can of diced or crushed tomatoes, the ½ cup of wine, and the ½ teaspoon each of pepper, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and thyme to the pan. Set the rest of the tomato paste aside.
  7. Stir everything together and blend well. Bring the sauce to a  boil over medium heat, and allow it to simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring often.
  8. Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and set the timer according to the directions on the side of the pasta package, usually 7-12 minutes.
  9. While the pasta and sauce are cooking, make the garlic bread and your salad.
  10. Drain the 2-3 cans of chick peas, reserving some of the liquid.
  11. Crumble the feta by breaking it up with your fingers.
  12. After the sauce has simmered for about 10-15 minutes, check to see if it is the desired consistency and add some of the reserved chick pea liquid and/or more of the tomato paste, as needed. 
  13. Add the thawed spinach and the chick peas and stir them in gently.
  14. Cook the sauce for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the spinach and chick peas are heated through. Stir occasionally.   
  15. Gently stir in the feta or Parmesan cheese and remove the sauce from direct heat.
  16. When the pasta is done to taste, drain it well in a colander in the sink.
  17. Options for serving: you can add the pasta to the sauce and stir everything carefully together, or you can serve the sauce over individual portions of pasta on plates.
  18. Serve the meal with a tossed salad and the optional slices of garlic bread.

Comments are closed.
    Follow Me
    Picture
    Picture
    Hi, I'm Nancy, and I'm on a mission to help people eat and live well on a tight budget. In these uncertain times, it has never been more important to practice frugality. 

     In this section of the blog, I offer some meal plans and recipes, some old, some new, to help get you started on eating well for less than you think and keeping money in your bank account.

    I hope you find some of these recipes useful.  

    And thanks for visiting!

    Archives buy

    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    -10 Soups
    -12 Ways To Prepare Zucchini
    -3-Bean Spinach Tomato And Lime Pasta Salad
    -Baked Bean Casserole
    -Baked Ham With Roast Potatoes
    -Bean Recipes
    -Beet And Caramelized Onion Quiche
    -Black Bean Burgers
    -*Black Bean Soup
    -*Black-Eyed Peas And Spicy Greens
    -Broccoli And Cheese Spaghetti Squash
    -Broccoli-Mushroom Lasagna
    -Broccoli Tuna One-Pot Pasta
    -Buckwheat Cakes With Citrus-Maple Topping
    -Butternut Squash And Apple Bake
    -Caramelized Onions The Easy Way
    -Carrot And Raisin Salad
    -Carrot And Turnip Mash
    -Cheesy Spinach Pasta Bake
    -Chicken And Turkey Recipes
    -Chicken /Turkey Noodle Soup
    -Chicken With Spinach
    -Chickpea And Vegetable Curry
    -Chick Pea Noodle Soup
    -Chili Mac
    -Citrus Fruit Slaw
    -Coleslaw
    -Curry Cauliflower Bean Stew
    -Dirty Rice With Collard Greens
    *Dressings And Sauces
    -Egg Alternatives
    -Eggplant Parmigiana
    -Egg Recipes
    -Falafel
    -Fast-Food Tortillas
    -Garlic Bread
    -Garlic Hummus
    -Gazpacho-Style Tomato Soup
    -Ginger Cabbage And Noodle Soup
    -Gluten Free
    -*Greek Avgolemono (Lemon-Egg Soup)
    -Greek Bean And Tomato Stew
    -Greek Beet Potato Bowl
    -Greek-Style Chickpeas
    -How To Cook Dry Beans
    -Lasagna Dishes
    -Latkes
    -Layered Summer Vegetable Casserole
    -Lentil And Barley "Meatloaf"
    -Lentil And Vegetable Salad
    -Lentil Bolognese Spaghetti
    -Lentil Recipes
    -Lentils-Mediterranean Style
    -Lentil Soup
    -Lentils-Spicy And Sweet
    -Mediterranean Chicken (or Lamb) Stew
    -Mediterranean Garlic And Green Bean Stew
    -*Mediterranean Zucchini And Eggs With Sweet Potato Oven Fries*
    -Minestrone Soup
    -One Pot Meals
    -Paella
    -Pasta Bruschetta
    -Pasta Dishes And Salads
    -Pasta Fagioli
    -Pasta With Lemon Vegetables And Feta
    -Pasta With Olives And Zucchini
    -Pasta With Swiss Chard And Beans
    -Pasta With Tomato And Spinach And Feta
    -Popcorn For Pennies
    -Potato And Cabbage Soup
    -Potato Recipes
    -Pumpkin Vegetable Soup
    -Quiche With Spinach Or Broccoli
    -Ramen Noodle Slaw
    -*Ratatouille - French-Style Vegetable Casserole*
    -Red Beans And Rice
    -Rice Dishes
    -Roast Chicken Dinner
    -Salad Dressing
    -Salads
    -Salad The Easy Way
    -Salmon Burger Dinner
    -*Salsa
    -Shakshuka-Style Spicy Egg And Tomato Casserole
    -Side Dishes
    -Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions
    -Snacks (Cheap And Healthy)
    -Soup Joumou
    -Soups And Stews
    -Spaghetti (with Meat Sauce)
    -Spicy Black Bean And Corn Salsa Salad
    -Spicy Garlic Linguini
    -Spinach Lasagna (Easy Prep)
    -Split Pea Soup
    -Squash Prep
    -Stuffed Baked Potato
    -Stuffed Cabbage Made Easy
    -Stuffed Grape Leaves Made Easy
    -Summer Vegetable Recipes
    -Sweet Potato And Spinach And Feta Quiche
    -Sweet Potato Latkes
    -Sweet Potato Oven Fries
    -Tamale Pie Casserole
    -Tortellini Parmesan Salad Supreme
    -Tuna Casserole Supreme
    -*Turkey And Vegetable Rice Pilaf
    -Tzatziki
    -Vegan Seitan (Wheat Meat)
    -Vegetable Prep
    -Vegetable Soup Broth
    -White Bean And Parmesan Soup
    -Whole Wheat Bread
    -Zucchini Garlic Hummus
    -Zucchini Parmigiana

    RSS Feed

Home

SHOP                              Life/Budget/Household Stuff               

              Food and Meal Blog             About                      

Copyright © Nancy Maje Gillis 2015-2025