Storing and Reheating
Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The pasta may soak up more of the sauce as it sits, so expect it to be thicker the next day.
Reheating
To reheat, add a splash of water, stock, or milk to loosen the sauce before microwaving or reheating on the stove. This will help bring back the creamy consistency.
Freezing
It’s possible to freeze the pasta. Let it cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove, adding extra liquid as needed. Do not heat it up longer than necessary, as the pasta will overcook.
If you know you want to freeze the pasta beforehand, it would help to undercook by 1-2 minutes.
One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta (with beef and spinach)
Course: 30 Minutes u0026amp; Under, Beef u0026amp; Lamb, Beyond Asian, Dinner, Easy Weeknight, One Pot, Pasta
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil (or neutral-tasting oil)
300g ground beef
1 onion, diced or 2 tbsp onion paste
3-4 garlic cloves, minced or 1 tbsp garlic paste
400ml tomato sauce (homemade or store-bought)
400ml water or beef stock
1 cup milk
1 tsp salt, or to taste
½ tsp black pepper, or to taste
4 servings or 2 cups (200g) penne pasta
2 cups fresh spinach, loosely packed
100g cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, or a mix), shredded
parsley or basil, for garnish
Directions
- Sauté the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and the liquid has evaporated.
- Cook the Aromatics: Push the ground beef to one side. Add more oil if needed, and add the onion and garlic to the pot. Sauté until fragrant, before stir frying with the ground beef.
- Add Tomato Sauce and Liquids: Pour in the tomato sauce, water (or stock), and milk.
- Add Pasta and Let Cook: Stir in the pasta, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture come up to a boil, before bringing to a simmer. Let the pasta cook for 12 minutes (or according to your pasta package instructions), stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened. Check the pasta before moving on to the next step – one pot pasta cooks about 1-2 minutes longer to get to al dente.
- Add Spinach: Stir in the chopped spinach. Once spinach wilts, turn off the heat.
- Add Cheese: Top pasta with cheese, and put on a lid so the cheese melts in the residual heat. Alternatively, immediately stir in the cheese until melted and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve: Garnish with basil or parsley, if desired. Dish up your creamy beef and spinach pasta with tomato sauce, and enjoy straight from the pot!
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