Time: 25 min.
Complexity: easily
Servings: 6

Smoked cheese and creamy white beans make this pasta a very filling meatless dish. Spinach adds flavor and healthy fiber. Substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth, and the pasta becomes completely vegetarian. Serve it as a side dish or a main course.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 tsp coarse salt + extra for pasta
• 450 g of pasta shells
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1.5 tsp coarse salt
• 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1 can (425 g) canned cannellini beans, rinsed
• 1 cup lightly salted chicken broth
• 220 g smoked provolone or smoked mozzarella, grated (about 2 cups)
• 150 g small spinach, chopped

Substituting ingredients
Measuring containers used

1 glass (st.) - 250 ml.
3/4 cup (st.) - 180 ml.
2/3 cup (st.) - 160 ml.
1/2 cup (st.) - 125 ml.
1/3 cup (st.) - 80 ml.
1/4 cup (st.) - 60 ml.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) - 15 ml.
1 teaspoon (tsp) - 5 ml.
1/5 teaspoon (tsp) - 1 ml.

Recipes with similar ingredients

shell pasta, cannellini beans, spinach, carrot, provolone cheese, thyme

We recommend

Preparation:

Step 1
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook for 3 minutes less than package directions, about 7 minutes. Drain thoroughly, setting aside 1/2 cup of the water.
Step 2
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, carrots, and onion to the skillet. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables have softened and become fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and thyme and cook for another minute. Add the beans and chicken broth. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a gentle simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use the back of a spoon to gently mash the beans slightly. Set aside.
Step 3
• Add the cooked pasta to the sauce. Sprinkle with grated cheese and toss to coat. If needed, add the remaining 0.5 teaspoon of salt and 0.5 cups of cooking water for a creamy sauce. Sprinkle with spinach and cook until wilted.

Votes: 3