Curly Pasta With Spinach and Chickpeas

Food & Wine. 1998.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs fresh spinach, stemmed and washed well
• 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 1⁄2 ounces pancetta, cut into thin strips
• 4  large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1  lb  curly spaghetti, broken in half or 1  lb  fusilli, col buco broken in half
• 1 (19 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Heat a large skillet. Gradually add the fresh spinach and cook over moderately high heat, stirring between additions, until wilted.
2. Transfer the spinach to a colander and rinse under cold water, then gently squeeze fairly dry.
3. Coarsely chop the spinach.
4. In the same skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the pancetta and garlic and cook over low heat, stirring, until the garlic is lightly browned, about 12 minutes.
5. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 3/4 cup of the cooking water.
6. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl.
7. Return the spinach to the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring, until heated through.
8. Add the chickpeas and reserved pasta water and simmer for 3 minutes.
9. Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss well. Season with salt and pepper and serve at once.