Pasta night may just be a new addition to the weekly menu. Between carbonara and zucchini linguine with herbs, I’m really not sure why pasta doesn’t make a more frequent appearance. It is delicious, easy, economical and the possibilities are endless. Although the deliciousness and total disregard for portion control may be part of the problem…

Inspired by this Food & Wine Recipe, leeks are always welcome and appreciated in my kitchen.

Creamy Leek & Spinach Pasta - serves 2 with leftovers

  • 6 oz pasta whole wheat pasta
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 leek, thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 Tbsp garlic & herb mascarpone cheese (or plain)
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach
  • parmesan cheese, pepper and red pepper

Prepare pasta as directed. Heat olive oil in large pan and add leeks and garlic when hot. Season with salt and pepper and sauté until soft. Add cooked pasta to pan and toss with mascarpone and spinach. Finish with freshly grated parmesan and red & black pepper.

Share it!

30 Comments ( Reply )

  1. Dan
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 9:20 am

    Could you possibly describe the taste of this delicious looking pasta dish so that I might enjoy it as well?

  2. Dan
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 9:20 am

    Could you possibly describe the taste of this delicious looking pasta dish so that I might enjoy it as well?

  3. Estela @ Weekly Bite
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:22 am

    Emily, this looks incredible! I always forget about leeks. I need to cook with them more often :)

  4. Estela @ Weekly Bite
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:22 am

    Emily, this looks incredible! I always forget about leeks. I need to cook with them more often :)

  5. Julie @SavvyEats
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:25 am

    This looks amazing! Can you believe I’ve never cooked with leeks? I may need to remedy that…

  6. Julie @SavvyEats
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:25 am

    This looks amazing! Can you believe I’ve never cooked with leeks? I may need to remedy that…

  7. Jenna @ Health and Happiness
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:55 am

    Love the pics. The spinach pasta looks incredible. The sauce is so creamy, and the leeks added in make it heavenly i’m sure! I’ll have to find out a way to veganize this recipe!

    • anutritionisteats
      Jan 26, 2010 @ 2:13 pm

      I would just toss with some olive oil (and maybe a bit more garlic)! And don’t forget the pepper!

  8. Jenna @ Health and Happiness
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:55 am

    Love the pics. The spinach pasta looks incredible. The sauce is so creamy, and the leeks added in make it heavenly i’m sure! I’ll have to find out a way to veganize this recipe!

    • anutritionisteats
      Jan 26, 2010 @ 2:13 pm

      I would just toss with some olive oil (and maybe a bit more garlic)! And don’t forget the pepper!

  9. mary beth
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 11:51 am

    i love leeks! this sounds really good and easy.

    p.s. your portion size in the photo looks great! (unless you went back for seconds?)!!

  10. mary beth
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 11:51 am

    i love leeks! this sounds really good and easy.

    p.s. your portion size in the photo looks great! (unless you went back for seconds?)!!

  11. cozydelicious
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 1:58 pm

    Yum! I love leeks – in anything, on anything, with anything. But rarely do they get to be the star, so this is great! I’m thinking this might be yummy sprinkled with a teeny tiny bit of gorgonzola instead of parmesean at the end for extra oomph. Leeks and blue cheese are, in my opinion, made for eachother.

  12. cozydelicious
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 1:58 pm

    Yum! I love leeks – in anything, on anything, with anything. But rarely do they get to be the star, so this is great! I’m thinking this might be yummy sprinkled with a teeny tiny bit of gorgonzola instead of parmesean at the end for extra oomph. Leeks and blue cheese are, in my opinion, made for eachother.

  13. Anna
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 3:58 pm

    lol– I have trouble with portion control when it comes to pasta as well :-) Glad to see that even nutritionists struggle with that at times.

    Yours looks delicious!!!

  14. Anna
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 3:58 pm

    lol– I have trouble with portion control when it comes to pasta as well :-) Glad to see that even nutritionists struggle with that at times.

    Yours looks delicious!!!

  15. Jamie Utzinger
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 6:48 pm

    Your pasta looks delicious! Although I have never tried leeks before… I might just have to give it a go!

  16. Jamie Utzinger
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 6:48 pm

    Your pasta looks delicious! Although I have never tried leeks before… I might just have to give it a go!

  17. The Healthy Hostess
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 7:24 pm

    That pasta is so beautiful! I can’t wait to try it! Great recipe and pictures! :)

  18. The Healthy Hostess
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 7:24 pm

    That pasta is so beautiful! I can’t wait to try it! Great recipe and pictures! :)

  19. actorsdiet
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 9:24 pm

    i haven’t had leeks in forever. they’re definitely welcome in my kitchen, though, too!

  20. actorsdiet
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 9:24 pm

    i haven’t had leeks in forever. they’re definitely welcome in my kitchen, though, too!

  21. Suzanne
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 9:26 pm

    Wow, this looks and sounds delicious! The only reason I can control myself when eating pasta is because I like to have leftovers for the next day, otherwise, it would be all gone!

  22. Suzanne
    Jan 26, 2010 @ 9:26 pm

    Wow, this looks and sounds delicious! The only reason I can control myself when eating pasta is because I like to have leftovers for the next day, otherwise, it would be all gone!

  23. Jessica Mahler
    May 06, 2010 @ 10:17 am

    Such a excellent recipe, simple instructions, easy to prepare moreover positively flavorful, my husband liked it, appreciate it so much.

  24. Jessica Mahler
    May 06, 2010 @ 10:17 am

    Such a excellent recipe, simple instructions, easy to prepare moreover positively flavorful, my husband liked it, appreciate it so much.