Step 1

1 In a large pot of salted boiling water over medium-high heat, cook the pasta about 2 minutes short of package instructions

Step 2

2 Drain, reserving 4 cups of the pasta water

Step 3

3 Carefully wipe out any residual water from the pot and return it to medium-high heat

Step 4

4 Add the oil and heat until shimmering

Step 5

5 Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute

Step 6

6 If the goat cheese is in a log, cut it into about 6 pieces

Step 7

7 Add the goat cheese, oregano and cayenne and 2 cups of the pasta water and stir until the cheese is melted and well combined, about 4 minutes

Step 8

8 Reduce the heat to medium

Step 9

9 Add the spinach and parsley and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes, adding splashes of additional pasta water as needed

Step 10

10 Remove the pot from the heat and add half of the cooked pasta

Step 11

11 Using a large fork or tongs, gently toss until the noodles are well coated

Step 12

12 Add the remaining pasta and repeat until all of the pasta is coated in a thin sauce

Step 13

13 Add additional pasta water if the noodles seem too dry

Step 14

14 Transfer the pasta to a big serving bowl

Step 15

15 Sprinkle it with the walnuts and bacon, if using

Step 16

16 Gently toss once more, sprinkle parsley on top and serve family-style

Step 17

17 Correction: In an earlier version of this recipe, the nutritional analysis was incorrect

Step 18

18 It has been updated