Thursday, May 22, 2014

Spinach and Artichoke Wonderpot

I think I saw this recipe on Pinterest - and thought it would be a great recipe to make when we're in our RV.  But I made it tonight here at home, because I needed to give it a try first.  We loved it!

The recipe is called a Wonderpot because you put everything in the pot at once - even the pasta - and cook until it's done. There's no sautéing in advance - which surprised me, because the mushrooms and onions came out just fine. Beth, the creator, has some other Wonderpot recipes on her site, Budget Bytes, as well as some great ideas for low-cost, tasty meals. Beth's original recipe serves 6, but I adapted it to serve Don and me with some leftovers for tomorrow.

Spinach and Artichoke Wonderpot
Adapted from Budget Bytes

5 ounces mushrooms
1 6-ounce jar artichoke hearts, drained
2 cloves garlic
1/2 medium yellow onion
3 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces linguine
½ teaspoon dried oregano
pinch dried thyme
freshly cracked pepper
4 ounces frozen cut spinach

Rinse the mushrooms to remove any dirt or debris. Slice the mushrooms thinly.
Drain the jar of artichoke hearts and roughly chop them into bite-sized pieces.
Thinly slice the onion and garlic (you can mince the garlic if you don’t want large slices).
Place the vegetable broth, olive oil, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, onions, and garlic in a large pot. Break the linguine in half and add it to the pot along with the oregano, thyme, and some freshly cracked pepper.
Push the ingredients down under the broth as much as possible. Place a lid on the pot and bring it up to a rolling boil over high heat. As soon as it reaches a boil, stir the pot to evenly distribute the ingredients and prevent the pasta from sticking. Turn the heat down to low so that the pot is just simmering. Allow the pot to simmer, with the lid on, for 10-15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Give the pot a stir every few minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking.
Once the pasta is cooked through, add the frozen spinach. Allow the heat from the pasta to thaw the spinach. Stir the pot to help break up the clumps of spinach as they melt. Serve hot with some grated Parmesan.