Pasta Fresca (Noodles & Co. style)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This pasta dish, inspired by Noodles & Company's Tuscan fresca, is quick to make at home and easy to customize just the way you like it. Penne pasta is sauteed with red onion, tomato and spinach and topped with a sauce made from balsamic vinegar, olive oil, white wine, and plenty of garlic.
Author:
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
Sauce (makes 1 cup or enough for about 4 batches of pasta)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 bulb garlic, minced (about ¼ cup)
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup sweet white wine (I used a moscato)
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • pinch of fresh ground black pepper
Pasta
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ of a red onion, sliced (about 1 cup)
  • 3-4 cups cooked pasta (I used a gluten-free brown rice penne)
  • 1½ cups chopped tomato
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • feta or parmesan to top (optional)*
Instructions
Sauce
  1. Pour ¼ cup of olive oil into a small saucepan with the minced garlic. Gently heat over medium-low heat for several minutes until garlic sizzles and just begins to color, then immediately remove from heat. (You don't want it brown, just a nice golden color.)
  2. Combine the garlic-infused olive oil with the balsamic, white wine, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. Whisk well to combine and set aside.
Pasta
  1. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil on a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the sliced red onion. Saute for about one minute or until onion starts to soften slightly.
  2. Add pasta and diced tomatoes and toss gently to combine, cooking for another minute or two, just until pasta is heated throughout.
  3. Remove from heat, then add spinach and pour ¼ cup of the sauce over the pasta. Toss gently to combine until spinach is wilted and sauce is well distributed. Season to taste and top with feta or parmesan, if desired.
  4. Enjoy!
Notes
*To make this dish vegan, omit the cheese or top with tofu feta.
Recipe by I Deliciate. at https://ideliciate.com/pasta-fresca-noodles-co-style/