Penne Pasta with Walnuts and Goat Cheese

Name: Penne Pasta with Walnuts and Goat Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 40 g Olive oil; 60 g Green onion; 50 g Walnuts; 320 g Penne pasta; 40 g Romano cheese; 2 g Ground pepper, fresh; 30 g Spinach leaves, fresh

Penne Pasta with Walnuts and Goat Cheese · ready in 25 min · 4 servings · 620 kcal per serving · easy · 7 ingredients

Tender penne pasta is tossed in a creamy goat cheese sauce with toasted walnuts and sweet green onions, finished with fresh spinach for a rich yet balanced bite.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 25 min
Serves: 4
kcal: 620
Difficulty: easy

Italian Mediterranean Main dishes Quick (30 min or less)Vegetarian

A QiMeal recipe · Updated 3 October 2026

Ingredients · 4 servings

40 gOlive oil
60 gGreen onion
50 gWalnuts
320 gPenne pasta
40 gRomano cheese
2 gGround pepper, fresh
30 gSpinach leaves, fresh

Equipment

stovetop, colander, large skillet, serving bowls, stockpot, tongs, wooden spoon

Instructions

Cook pasta
Prepare pasta according to package directions. · 10 min
What to look for: pasta is tender but firm
Saute aromatics
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add green onions and walnuts and saute over medium heat until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. · 5 min
What to look for: onions soft and walnuts lightly golden
Melt cheese with pasta
Add cooked and drained pasta to skillet along with goat cheese. Reduce heat to low and stir gently until cheese melts. · 3 min
What to look for: cheese softened and coating pasta
Finish and serve
Add whipping cream and Romano cheese. Season with pepper and stir well. Garnish with spinach leaves if desired. Serve immediately. · 2 min
What to look for: creamy sauce evenly distributed

Nutrition (per serving)

kcal	620
Protein	18 g
Carbohydrates	52 g
of which sugars	4 g
Fat	38 g
of which saturated	14 g
Fibre	4 g
Sodium	620 mg

Nutri-ScoreC

Allergens

Contains: gluten, milk, tree nuts

Storage and reheating

Fridge: up to 3 days
Freezer: not recommended

Ingredient substitutions

Olive oil

butter: Use unsalted butter to control salt levels
avocado oil: High smoke point and neutral flavor

Green onion

leek: Use white and light green parts only
chives: Add at the end to preserve flavor

Walnuts

pecans: Toast lightly before use
sunflower seeds: Good nut-free option

Penne pasta

whole wheat penne: Increase cooking time slightly
gluten-free penne: Rinse briefly after cooking

Romano cheese

parmesan cheese: Finely grated for best melting

Ground pepper

white pepper: Adds mild heat without speckles