Arugula & Feta Pasta

This easy pasta recipe was inspired by Lidia Bastianich. She's an Italian Chef on PBS who also has written cookbooks and owns restaurants. I love her food - a mix of rustic, comforting, sometimes complex and often times simple recipes. I caught bits and pieces of her making a pasta dish using Ricotta Salata and arugula. Ricotta Salata is a firm, salty cheese and you may know arugula by it's other name: rocket - a peppery, mustardy, sometimes bitter salad green. I used what I had on hand and it happened to be Feta, which I found out afterward is a good substitute. It couldn't be easier - sauted garlic is tossed with cooked linquine, cheese and arugula for a delicious dish that takes mere minutes to prepare. And it's a wonderful canvas to build on if you want something heartier. A small squeeze of lemon or lemon peel will brighten up the flavors and crumbled bacon or prosciutto would also be great to add in. Next time I'm going to saute some sun-dried tomatoes along with the garlic. Just keep in mind that you don't really want to cook the arugula - you only need to add enough heat for it to wilt.

Pasta w/ Arugula and Feta

(Inspired by Lidia Bastianich)

8 ounces Linguine

4 garlic cloves, minced

Olive oil for sauteing

2 cups baby Arugula leaves

8 ounces crumbled Feta cheese or Ricotta Salata

1/3 cup Parmesan, shredded, plus more for serving

Extra-Virgin Olive oil for drizzling

Sea or Kosher Salt & fresh Black Pepper, for serving

Fresh squeezed lemon, optional

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions to al dente. 

2. When the pasta is almost cooked saute the garlic in olive oil in a large skillet over low heat until fragrant.

3. Add the arugula and saute until the leaves begin to wilt. Turn off heat.

4. Drain pasta and reserve a 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the skillet along with the cheeses, toss well, add a little bit of the pasta water if needed and a squeeze of lemon/lemon peel if desired.

5. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and Parmesan.

Print Recipe

I want to give a shout-out and a thank-you to Raoul and Matt of Mix My Granola for sending Moon and I our very own custom mix of "Yummy Cinnamon Granola" with dates, blueberries, cashews, yogurt pretzels, tiramisu caramels, and pomegranate cordials, an absolutely delicious combination that I loved.  At Mix My Granola you can customize your own granola anyway you like it. Almost everything is organic, all-natural, and they have a huge selection of goodies to mix-in - mostly healthy and some that are a little on the indulgent side for granola.

Kitchen Cat approved!

Arugula & Feta Pasta