# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 ounces dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
→ Dairy
02 - 7 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
→ Vegetables
03 - 5 ounces baby spinach, washed
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Pantry
05 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
08 - Salt to taste
→ Garnish
09 - Zest of 1 lemon
10 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add dried pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add baby spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until completely wilted, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Transfer hot drained pasta to the skillet with spinach mixture. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese evenly over the pasta.
05 - Pour 1/2 cup reserved pasta water into the skillet. Toss all ingredients vigorously for 2-3 minutes until feta softens and creates a creamy sauce. Add additional pasta water incrementally to reach desired consistency.
06 - Season the pasta with black pepper, red chili flakes if desired, and salt. Adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Transfer to serving bowls immediately. Top with lemon zest and fresh chopped basil or parsley.
