Spicy Spinach Ragu With Cream

This little meal came about because I got some mince out for dinner…and then saw a pasta dish online with spinach that made me long for pasta!  I ended up combining the two plus a few other bits in the fridge that needed using up to create this.  I do love a good ragu!  It was delicious, and not only bated my appetite for pasta, it warmed me up after I got drenched in a torrential downpour…

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 tbl sp olive oil
• 1 onion
• 1 red chili
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 12oz beef mince
• 12 oz fresh tomatoes
• Half of a 250g jar of red pesto
• 1 tsp mixed ground spice
• Salt & pepper
• 350g penne pasta
• 150ml double cream
• 1 250g bag of fresh spinach

1. Heat your oil in a big heavy bottomed saucepan.
2. Chop your onion, chili and garlic and add to the pan, stir and coat in the oil for 2 minutes.
3. Add your mince and stir every minute until it is thoroughly cooked through.
4. Roughly chop your tomatoes and add them to the pan, cooking for another five minutes.
5. Add your pesto, mixed spice and salt & pepper and mix together well.
6. Turn your sauce right down so it’s simmering low and put a lid on your pan.
7. Leave this to cook while you boil your water for the pasta and cook your pasta as per the packet instructions.
8. Two minutes before your pasta is ready to be drained, add the cream and the spinach to the sauce and stir until fully combined and your spinach has wilted.
9. Drain the pasta and throw it into the big pan with your completed sauce.
10. Stir well being sure all the pasta is completely covered and serve immediately with an extra sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper.

Tags: cooking, cream, easy, fresh, garlic, homemade, pasta, ragu, simple, spice, spinach, tomatoes