Pasta Fagioli

Pasta Fagioli

Ingredients

• Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• Spinach (from the garden!) equivalent of 2 bags (6 ounces each) baby spinach
• 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
• 1 15 oz. can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives
• 1 tsp. dried thyme ( from the garden!)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 Box Whole Wheat Penne Pasta
  

1.) Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and saute for a few seconds. Add the spinach one bag at a time and cook for 4 – 5 minutes, or until wilted.
2.) Add the tomatoes, beans, olives, thyme, salt, and pepper and simmer for 8 – 10 minutes.
3.) Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain in a colander and transfer to a bowl. Serve sauce over the pasta.

Doesn't this dish just scream of flavor & vitamins? "Bud" loved the olives. It was the highlight of the dish for him. Everyone else ate their dinner, however, I noticed that they left the olives in their bowls. So I think I will try this recipe again but either leave out olives completely or substitute with black olives. Sorry Bud! Majority rules. :) Our family gave this a 3 - 4 spoon rating.

If you would like to see how I was able to make this dinner for 4 for under $5.00 you can check out my post over at Money Saving Maine-iac.