Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Servings 4 people
This easy creamy spinach and mushroom pasta is a comforting, flavour-packed dish made with tender mushrooms, wilted spinach, and a rich, cheesy cream sauce. Lightly spiced with Kashmiri chilli powder and turmeric, it’s an easy weeknight meal that feels indulgent yet balanced.
Pasta
- 250g pasta (penne, fettuccine, spaghetti, gnocchi shells etc.)
Mushroom and Spinach Mixture
- 2 tbsp butter
- 250g button mushrooms
- 3 fresh green chillies (or 3 tsp red chilli flakes)
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tsp mixed italian herbs
- 1 tsp mixed Kashmiri chilli powder (or 1 tsp paprika)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric (optional)
- 1 medium onion (sliced or finely chopped)
- 125g baby spinach
- salt and pepper to taste
Creamy Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 500ml milk
- 250ml fresh cream
- 100g grated cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix)
- 1 tsp mixed italian herbs
- salt and pepper to taste
To Finish
- Top with extra grated cheese
- Garnish with fresh coriander
Mushroom & Spinach Mixture
Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped mushrooms, sliced green chillies, minced garlic, and mixed Italian herbs. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms release their moisture, soften, and begin to lightly brown.
Add in the Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and cook for about a minute, just until the spices are cooked through and it evenly coats the mushrooms. Remove the mushroom mixture from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, add a little more butter if needed. Add the chopped onion and cook over medium heat until soft and translucent. Add the baby spinach and cook briefly until just wilted. Remove from the pan and set aside with the mushrooms.
Creamy Sauce
Return the pan to medium heat and add butter. Once melted, add the flour and stir continuously to form a smooth roux. Cook for 1–2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste, taking care not to let it brown.
Gradually pour in the milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Add the fresh cream, grated cheese, salt, black pepper, and mixed Italian herbs. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens to a smooth, creamy consistency.
To Finish
Return the cooked veggies (mushrooms and spinach) to the sauce. Stir gently to combine and allow everything to heat through.
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until evenly coated. If the sauce feels too thick, add a small splash of reserved pasta cooking water to loosen it to your desired consistency.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with extra grated cheese and fresh coriander, if desired.
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Keep some reserved pasta water aside so that you can adjust the consistency of the sauce without thinning flavour.
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For extra richness, add more cheese or cream to taste.
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Mixed Kashmiri chilli and the fresh green chillies add a bit of heat, so be sure to adjust to your preference. You can substitute this with paprika and red chilli flakes if you prefer.