Creative Spinach Pici Pasta Recipe: Homemade Italian Comfort

Verdant spinach pici pasta reimagines simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that whispers tales of italian countryside kitchens.

Handcrafted noodles wind and curl with a vibrant emerald hue, promising rich flavors and rustic charm.

Traditional techniques merge with modern creativity in this delightful pasta style that celebrates natural ingredients.

Soft and chewy strands carry an earthy spinach essence, dancing effortlessly between comfort and sophistication.

Each bite reveals a connection to generations of passionate home cooks who reimagineed basic elements into extraordinary meals.

The process feels intimate, almost meditative, as you roll and shape each delicate noodle with care.

Preparing this dish connects you to a timeless culinary tradition that elevates humble ingredients.

Why You’ll Love Spinach Pici Pasta

• Craft Vibrant Green Pasta: Blend spinach directly into the dough, creating a stunning emerald-colored pasta that looks as incredible as it tastes, packed with natural vegetable nutrients.
• Quick and Simple Handmade Technique: Roll small dough pieces into delicate tubes using just your hands, making this recipe perfect for home cooks wanting an authentic Italian pasta-making experience without complex equipment.
• Nutritional Powerhouse Meal: Loaded with plant-based protein, low in fat, and featuring fresh spinach, this pasta delivers a healthy dining option that doesn't compromise on flavor or texture, ideal for vegetarians and health-conscious eaters.
• Super Fast Cooking Performance: Boil these delicate pasta tubes for less than a minute, transforming them from raw dough to tender, ready-to-serve strands in practically no time, making it an excellent choice for weeknight dinners or quick lunch preparations.

Spinach Pici Pasta Ingredients

• Spinach: Fresh green spinach gives natural color and earthy flavor to the pasta. Choose tender, vibrant green leaves without yellowing or wilting.
• All-Purpose Flour: Basic flour provides structure and binds the pasta dough together. Select high-quality, unbleached flour for best results.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps develop gluten in the pasta dough. Use fine sea salt for even distribution.

• Water: Used for boiling the handmade pasta. Fresh, clean water ensures good pasta texture.
• Garlic Butter (Optional Sauce): Simple sauce that complements the spinach pastas flavor. Select good quality butter with fresh garlic.

• Salt (for Boiling Water): Seasons pasta during cooking and improves overall taste. Use kosher or sea salt for better flavor absorption.

Spinach Pici Pasta Instructions

Step 1: Blend Spinach Dough

Grab your food processor and toss in fresh spinach, flour, and a pinch of salt. Pulse and blend until the mixture transforms into a vibrant green, smooth dough. Scrape down the sides occasionally to ensure everything mixes perfectly.

Step 2: Shape Pasta Tubes

Take small teaspoon-sized portions of the green dough and roll them carefully between your palms. Gently stretch and shape each piece into slender, elongated tubes resembling delicate green pencils.

Step 3: Cook Pasta

Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Gently drop the handcrafted spinach pici pasta into the bubbling water. Watch them cook for 30-60 seconds until they gracefully float to the surface, signaling they’re ready to be enjoyed.

Step 4: Serve and Savor

Transfer your freshly cooked spinach pici to a serving plate. Drizzle with your favorite sauce – garlic butter works wonderfully, but feel free to experiment with marinara, pesto, or a light cream sauce that complements the vibrant green pasta.

Spinach Pici Pasta Tips

• Master the Spinach Blend: Ensure the spinach is thoroughly dried after blanching to prevent excess moisture from making the dough too sticky.
• Roll with Precision: Use light, even pressure when shaping the pici to create uniform, slender pasta tubes without breaking the delicate dough.
• Control Water Temperature: Maintain a gentle, steady boil to cook the pasta evenly without causing the delicate green noodles to fall apart.
• Test for Doneness: Watch for the pasta to float to the surface, which signals they're perfectly cooked and ready to be removed from the water.
• Sauce Pairing Magic: Choose light, complementary sauces like garlic butter or olive oil to highlight the vibrant green color and fresh spinach flavor of the pasta.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers of Spinach Pici Pasta

• Refrigeration: Store leftover spinach pici pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Separate pasta layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate shape.
• Reheating: Gently warm the pasta in a skillet with a splash of olive oil or butter over medium-low heat. Stir carefully to prevent breaking the delicate pasta tubes. Add a few tablespoons of water or extra sauce to keep the pasta moist and prevent drying out.
• Freezing: For longer storage, freeze uncooked spinach pici pasta on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Frozen pasta can be stored for up to 1 month. Cook directly from frozen, adding an extra 15-30 seconds to the cooking time.

Spinach Pici Pasta Pairing Tips

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Brighten the earthy spinach pasta with a zesty Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, which cuts through the richness and complements the green herbal notes.
• Match with Light Parmesan Cream Sauce: Create a silky, delicate sauce using freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, butter, and a touch of black pepper to enhance the spinach pasta's natural flavors.
• Serve with Fresh Herb Salad: Toss a light side salad of arugula, basil, and mint with lemon vinaigrette to provide a refreshing contrast to the dense, rich pasta texture.
• Complement with Grilled Chicken: Add lean, herb-seasoned grilled chicken breast slices on top for a protein boost that balances the vegetable-based pasta and adds depth to the meal.

Spinach Pici Pasta Variations

• Green Herb Fusion: Swap spinach with fresh basil or parsley for a vibrant, aromatic pasta with a different green hue and herbal flavor profile.
• Whole Wheat Wonder: Replace white flour with whole wheat flour to boost nutritional value and create a nuttier, earthier taste in your homemade pici.
• Gluten-Free Green Option: Use a blend of gluten-free flour like rice flour and almond flour with spinach to make a celiac-friendly version of this traditional Italian pasta.
• Spicy Mediterranean Kick: Mix finely chopped chili peppers or red pepper flakes into the dough for a zesty, spice-infused pasta that brings warmth to your meal.

Spinach Pici Pasta Recipe

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4.6 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 12 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Handcrafted Spinach Pici Pasta brings Tuscan countryside charm to your kitchen with its emerald green strands. Rustic pasta dough kneaded with fresh spinach creates a delightful Italian classic you can easily master at home.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 180 g (6.3 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 120 g (4.2 ounces) baby spinach

Seasoning:

• 0.5 teaspoons salt

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Instructions

1. Pulse fresh spinach leaves, all-purpose flour, and kosher salt in a food processor until a vibrant emerald-green dough develops, occasionally scraping down the processor walls to ensure uniform blending.
2. Pinch off small, marble-sized portions of the verdant dough and methodically roll each piece between your palms, creating slender, elongated pasta tubes approximately 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 centimeters) long.
3. Bring a generously salted large pot of water to a rolling boil, then gently lower the handcrafted spinach pici into the bubbling liquid.
4. Cook the delicate pasta for 45 to 60 seconds, observing as they gracefully rise to the water’s surface, indicating they are perfectly tender and ready to be extracted.
5. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the emerald pasta to a warm serving platter, allowing excess water to drain completely.
6. Adorn the freshly cooked pici with your preferred sauce, such as a luxurious garlic-infused brown butter or a rustic tomato ragù, ensuring each verdant strand is lovingly coated.

Notes

• Green dough requires minimal handling to prevent tough pasta texture.
• Hand-rolling technique takes practice but becomes easier with repetition.
• Fresh spinach provides vibrant color and subtle earthy flavor to homemade pasta.
• Freeze uncooked pici for up to one month in airtight container for quick future meals.
• Room temperature ingredients help create smoother, more elastic dough consistency.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 180mg
• Fat: 2g
• Carbohydrates: 64g
• Protein: 10g
• Cholesterol: 0mg