Lemon Pasta with Wilted Spinach and Shrimp

Earlier this week was the first day this year that I got to enjoy eating my dinner outside in the warmer weather before the sun had fully set. I love coming up with new dinner entrees and meals with what’s currently in my kitchen, and in my rush to beat the sunset (so I could enjoy watching it set while eating outside), I whipped up this pasta recipe quickly. It’s a lighter pasta option, which is great for those warmer days in our future.

Ingredients:

8 ounces uncooked spaghetti pasta

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

4 garlic cloves

5 ounces of baby spinach

4 tablespoons of lemon juice

½ cup cooked shrimp

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Dried Thyme

Directions:

1. Cook your pasta according to instructions on package. (I always cook my entire package of pasta, and then divide it up so I can make multiple meals out of it. This recipe calls for half a normal package of pasta.)
2. Drain, set aside.
3. Chop up your 4 garlic cloves.
4. Coat your already cooked shrimp with grated Parmesan cheese and thyme, and set aside.
5. In a large pan, add your butter or margarine over medium high heat. Once butter is melted, add your chopped garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
6. Add 3 of your 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to your butter and garlic mixture and reduce heat to medium-low.
7. Begin adding baby spinach to your pan. You’ll have to add it in increments, and once the first portion is wilted down, you can add more. (Otherwise it won’t all fit.)
8. Once all spinach is in pan and wilted, add your 4^th tablespoon of lemon juice and stir.
9. Now it’s time to add your pasta. Take your 8 ounces of cooked pasta, and add to your pan with everything else, being sure to stir well, so everything is integrated evenly.
10. Top with your Parmesan and thyme covered shrimp, and mix into pasta as well. Cook in pan on medium-low for an additional 5 minutes before serving.
11. Top with grated Parmesan, and enjoy!

Time to make: 20-30 minutes

Serves: 2 (with some leftovers)

My boyfriend really loved this dish. His favorite type of pasta is just simple buttered noodles, but he really enjoyed this twist on a basic noodle dish. It’s a great alternative to heavy pasta dishes as well, and contains way less calories (if you’re counting), than many other pasta options.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Lynda