Pasta With Spinach, Chickpeas, And Bacon

Total Time: 12 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
• 1 slice bacon, chopped small
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups canned chick-peas, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups fresh spinach, rinsed and chopped
• 1/4 lb ditalini
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Recipe

• 1 bring a large pot of water to a boil. cook the pasta according to instructions on the box, minus a minute or two.
• 2 when done save 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the rest- keep in a colander.
• 3 pour the olive oil into a skillet over medium heat. . add the bacon pieces and cook for 3 minutes or until they begin to render their fat. toss in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
• 4 sprinkle in the red pepper flakes.
• 5 dump in chickpeas and stir to coat. then add the spinach leaves, and cook until wilted. season with a pinch of salt and add a half a cup or so of the pasta cooking water.
• 6 when the spinach is wilted, add pasta to the pan with spinach and chick peas. cook, stirring constantly, for a minute or two.
• 7 remove from the heat, sprinkle with cheese, and serve.
• 8 i actually removed the bacon before eating, wanted to add the flavor but avoid some of the calories.