Penne Rosa Noodles and Company Recipe

One thing I miss about living in Northern Virginia is having lunch with my girlfriends at Noodles and Company. My “go to” dish was my favorite, their Penne Rosa. In the past 6 years of being gone, I think we have only tried to replicate this dish once.

Penne Rosa: Spicy tomato cream sauce, penne pasta, mushrooms, tomato, spinach and wine, Parmesan or feta

I wish that someone would open a restaurant here in Las Vegas {any takers?}. Hint… hint…

Right now here is the recipe that I am using based on memory. Hopefully one day I will be able to visit California or Utah to bring some back home to do a side-by-side taste test.

Penne Rosa Noodles and Company Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed
28 ounce can diced tomatoes or 2 x 14 ounce cans of diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons white wine
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 cup onions, white
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup baby spinach (packed)
salt to taste
1 pound box of penne pasta {we prefer Barilla}
Shredded basil and Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for garnishment)

Instructions

Prepare pasta according to package directions
While pasta is cooking, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to large pan and lightly sautee onions until translucent
Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds
Puree canned tomatoes and add to onions
Add cream, continue stirring.
Add crushed red pepper
Add mushrooms
Add pasta, mixing well.
Add spinach last, stirring until wilted.
Garnish with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.