Low-Carb Spinach And Feta Pasta

Low-Carb Spinach and Feta Pasta

Do you love spanakopita? You know, that yummy Greek dish that combines cheese and spinach between layers of buttery-carby dough?!

While that dish is a favorite of many people, it’s also not exactly a diet-friendly treat. So, we've combined all those delicious spanakopita flavors with It's Skinny Angel Hair for a keto-friendly delight that hits ALL the right notes!

My Big Fat Greek Favorite: Spanakopita

Spanakopita is truly a Greek classic. But, even if you don't have Greek heritage, you've probably enjoyed this yummy dish before—spinach pie made with layers of pastry dough and a creamy, spinach-dip-like filling. It’s salty, lemony, buttery, and absolutely amazing.

That said, traditional Spanakopita is typically enjoyed as a snack or appetizer—a small square of this crave-worthy (but high-carb) pie. So it’s not usually something you can enjoy at home on a weeknight, especially if you’re watching your carbs on keto or another low-carb diet.

But not to fear! Thanks to It's Skinny, you can enjoy this vegetarian dish as yummy, creamy pasta. We take all the flavors that you love and turn them into a spinach pie pasta dinner you’ll love to cook! It’s easy, simple, and so delicious, you won’t believe it!

Spanakopita got its start as a portable meal. Like English pasties, Indian samosas, and Spanish empanadas, portable pies were convenient for farmers working in the fields. It’s believed that the dish came to Greece from Turkey, as it resembles a similar Turkish food called ispanaki. 

Nowadays, many people enjoy Greek spanakopita at diners and restaurants. It’s usually served alongside rice, lemon soup, kabobs, and other Greek favorites.

Aside from the buttery pastry dough in classic spanakopita, spinach, feta, lemon, and dill are healthy ingredients. Spinach is rich in iron, folate, potassium, and vitamins, including A, C, and K. It's a fiber-rich, leafy green, and we all know it's essential to get more of those in your diet.

Feta is a fairly light cheese and extremely rich in protein and calcium. Because it's salty and flavorful, a little goes a long way. So you get more flavor bang for your buck! Similarly, the parmesan we use in our recipe has a lot of nutty, rich flavor that really makes the dish feel hearty and satisfying.

Dill has a lot of health benefits (although you have to eat a lot of dill to get most of them). It has anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. We really love dill for the flavor, though. It’s what makes this spinach pie pasta taste Greek, especially when combined with bright, fresh lemon!

Lightening Up with It’s Skinny

If you’re looking for ways to lighten up any dish (like spanakopita, for example), It’s Skinny is the perfect answer. It’s Skinny is an amazing Pasta that contains ZERO net carbs and only 9 calories per two-serving pack!

How does It’s Skinny get such impressive stats? Well, it's thanks to a little-known ingredient called konjac. Konjac is a root vegetable that originates from Asia, where it's long been used in medicine and cooking. It's high in fiber, and it happens to make an excellent ingredient for low-carb pasta!

The best part about It’s Skinny is that it keeps you feeling full and satisfied. Some pasta and rice swaps, like zoodles and cauli-rice, can leave you hungry. But It’s Skinny is full of satiating glucomannan fiber—a special type of fiber that keeps your blood sugar levels steady so there’s no spike and crash.

What’s more, It’s Skinny couldn't be easier to work with. Unlike its traditional counterparts, there's no need to boil water or cook the noodles or rice shape separately from the other ingredients in a dish. With It's Skinny, you simply open the pack, drain it, and add it to your dish at the end of cooking. It heats through in a couple of minutes, and you're ready to enjoy! It's that simple!

For this Spinach and Feta Pasta recipe, we chose It’s Skinny Angel Hair. The delicate strands of the pasta work really well with the lighter lemon-cheese sauce. But you could use any style of It’s Skinny:

• Spaghetti
• Fettuccine
• Angel Hair
• Rice Shape

If you aren’t sure which type fits your recipe, order a variety pack! You can try all the types of It’s Skinny and recreate any dish with low-carb, keto-friendly ingredients. It’s Skinny works for vegans. It’s kosher, gluten-free, and low-glycemic. It’s Skinny is perfect for paleo, and it’s the secret to Intermittent Fasting success. That’s right—you can enjoy a bowl of It’s Skinny noodles with a little butter and salt, and it won’t break your fast! It’s basically the perfect pasta!

Get Me to the Greek…Pasta

If you're ready to make this delicious Greek pasta, we're ready to show you how. But, like all good cooks, you may have a few questions, and we have answers. Here are some of our most frequently asked questions about Spinach and Feta Pasta.

Can I add protein to this dish?

While Parmesan and Feta add some protein to this dish, you could always increase it with some additional protein of your choosing. A few less-conventional suggestions are adding tofu or scrambled egg. Spanakopita often contains egg, and the flavors of a scramble complement the other ingredients well. Tofu will keep the dish vegetarian-friendly and can be a nice way to add some protein without overpowering the dish.

If you're more of a traditionalist, chicken is a great go-to protein. Grilled or sauteed lemon chicken would go perfectly with this Spinach Pie Pasta. Otherwise, shrimp is also great with feta, lemon, and dill.

Could I use It’s Skinny Rice Shape or Spaghetti here?

You can absolutely use any type of It’s Skinny in this dish. Rice is found in many Greek dishes and would work well with spinach and feta. Orzo, a rice-shaped pasta, is popular throughout the Mediterranean, so It’s Skinny Rice Shape feels right at home.

It’s Skinny Spaghetti is a little wider than the Angel Hair Pasta, but it’s so versatile that it can go with almost any meal. Fettuccine, our widest noodle shape, would also feel perfectly appropriate in this spinach pie pasta. Feel free to customize and mix things up!

How quickly can I make this dish?

Are you looking for a fast low-carb dinner? This meal is it! You can make this low-carb Spinach and Feta Pasta in about 5 minutes. The most time-consuming part is chopping the leaks and sauteing them up (which takes just a few minutes).

It's Skinny takes only two minutes to heat through. Unlike traditional pasta (or slow-cooking rice), there's no waiting for water to boil or worrying that you'll miss that perfect al dente window. All you need to do is add It’s Skinny at the end of cooking, let it heat through, and you’re ready to go!

How to Make Spinach and Feta Pasta with It’s Skinny Angel Hair

Are you ready to whip up this delicious take on spanakopita? It’s the perfect weeknight dinner—flavorful, filling, low-carb, and easy! Try it tonight—you won’t regret it!

Watch Chef Michele make this easy spinach and feta pasta recipe on the It's Skinny YouTube channel!