Best 14 Spinach Pasta Sauce Recipes

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Embark on a culinary journey to savor the delightful flavors of spinach pasta sauce, a vibrant and versatile creation that transforms ordinary pasta into an extraordinary dish. This exquisite sauce, with its verdant hue and rich, creamy texture, is a symphony of flavors that dances on your palate. Discover the secrets behind crafting the perfect spinach pasta sauce, from selecting the freshest spinach leaves to mastering the art of balancing spices and herbs. Delight in three enticing variations of this classic sauce: a creamy version infused with Parmesan cheese, a tangy tomato-based sauce bursting with Mediterranean flavors, and a pesto variant that captures the essence of basil and pine nuts. Prepare to tantalize your taste buds and elevate your pasta dishes to new heights with this comprehensive guide to spinach pasta sauce.

Here are our top 14 tried and tested recipes!

PASTA WITH SPINACH PESTO SAUCE



Pasta with Spinach Pesto Sauce image

A healthy, low-fat alternative to high-fat pesto sauce. Can also be made with basil or cilantro.

Provided by Sheila Martin

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 45m

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 13

16 ounces fresh spinach, washed and chopped
6 ounces low-fat, firm silken tofu
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
⅛ cup low-sodium chicken broth
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
10 ounces fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced
6 ounces fresh sliced shiitake mushrooms
½ cup diced red onion
¼ cup bacon bits
1 pound penne pasta

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions.
  • While pasta is cooking, in food processor or blender, combine spinach, tofu, lemon juice, garlic, broth, cheese, pepper, and Italian seasoning, process until smooth. Set aside.
  • Spray a large non-stick saute pan with cooking spray. Over medium heat, cook onions and mushrooms until tender. Reduce heat to low, add pesto mixture and heat until hot.
  • Toss pasta with sauce and bacon bits. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired. NOTE: If sauce seems too thick, thin to desired consistency with pasta cooking water or broth.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 450.8 calories, Carbohydrate 76.7 g, Cholesterol 11.1 mg, Fat 6.5 g, Fiber 6.5 g, Protein 25.2 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 416.6 mg, Sugar 5.8 g

FASTEST PASTA WITH SPINACH SAUCE



Fastest Pasta With Spinach Sauce image

The very best pasta is often the simplest. Jack Bishop, the author of "The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook," has refined his technique for pasta and vegetable sauce to breathtaking efficiency: He cooks the greens with the pasta and adds the seasonings at the last minute. While the pasta is cooking, Mr. Bishop prepares the seasonings. Allow at least a gallon of water to a pound of pasta, because you need a large pot to accommodate the greens and because, if there is too little water, the addition of the greens will slow the cooking too rapidly.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, weekday, pastas, main course

Time 25m

Yield 3 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste (optional)
About 15 calamata or other olives, pitted and roughly chopped
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 pound long pasta, like linguine
1 pound spinach, washed, tough stems removed, roughly chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and salt it. Meanwhile, mince the garlic as finely as possible and combine it in the bottom of a warm bowl with the red pepper flakes, olives and olive oil.
  • Place the pasta in the pot, and cook until it is nearly done (test it for doneness by tasting). Plunge the spinach into the water, and cook until it wilts, less than a minute. Drain quickly, allowing some water to cling to the pasta, and toss pasta and spinach in the bowl with the garlic and olive mixture. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 613, UnsaturatedFat 16 grams, Carbohydrate 90 grams, Fat 20 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 598 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams

PASTA WITH SPINACH SAUCE



Pasta With Spinach Sauce image

A wonderful sauce if you want to get your kids to eat spinach! Kids love this recipe, and the short cooking time guarantees a quick fix for lunch. Preparation time: As fast as your pasta water takes to cook!

Provided by Heidrun Wilson

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed
3 tablespoons sour cream
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup chopped ham
8 ounces spaghetti

Steps:

  • Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Drain.
  • Meanwhile prepare the sauce. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, and ham if desired. Cook until onion is transparent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic, and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in thawed spinach. Mix in sour cream, cream of celery soup, and Parmesan cheese. Reduce heat to low, and heat through.
  • Serve spinach sauce over spaghetti or egg noodles.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 468.2 calories, Carbohydrate 59.2 g, Cholesterol 38.7 mg, Fat 16.5 g, Fiber 6.9 g, Protein 22.9 g, SaturatedFat 5.7 g, Sodium 1223.8 mg, Sugar 4.8 g

PASTA WITH SPINACH-BASIL SAUCE



Pasta with Spinach-Basil Sauce image

This is a tasty twist on classic pasta with pesto sauce.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup shallots, minced
1 pound spinach, stemmed and washed
1 bunch basil, stemmed (4 to 5 cups lightly packed)
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 pounds fettuccine

Steps:

  • In small saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Cook shallots, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, submerge spinach and basil in a large pot of simmering salted water; drain immediately. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible; transfer spinach and basil to a food processor.
  • Add shallots, ricotta, Parmesan, and nutmeg; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Process until smooth.
  • Cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Toss pasta with spinach sauce; thin with pasta water, as needed. Serve with extra grated Parmesan, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 413 g, Fat 8 g, Fiber 5 g, Protein 17 g

PASTA WITH A ANCHOVY, SPINACH AND PINE NUT SAUCE



Pasta With a Anchovy, Spinach and Pine Nut Sauce image

This recipe actually originated from a collaboration between my girlfriend (who lives in Italy) and myself one night. She was visiting, and after spending the day at the beach we were starving. Well, other than a few pantry items, a couple of slices of a baguette, 1 fresh tomato and not much else this was the end result. We came up with this amazing angel hair pasta, frozen spinach, pine nuts (yes, I always have them in the freezer), of course some parmesan, and lastly anchovies (yes, I keep those too, I add them to many sauces). Well we made this pasta which was great, grilled the baguette and broiled the tomato slices with nothing more than a little balsamic, olive oil, s/p and fresh basil. Dinner was amazing and so was this pasta. Now this is a light pasta dish, but has so much flavor. I actually like to serve this as a side dish sometimes if you don't want to serve it as a main dish. It is great as a side with grilled fish like, Halibut, Cod, Tilapia or even grilled scallops. I like use a lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper marinade for the seafood to keep it simple which goes well with the pasta. Give it a try, I know you will really enjoy it. I never really liked anchovies until I tried them toasted or sauteed - they get nutty and sweet. This is literally a 20 minute great dish and serves 4 for a pretty good price. As I said, some fresh tomatoes, grilled bread and dinner in a hurry for family or friends.

Provided by SarasotaCook

Categories     < 30 Mins

Time 20m

Yield 4 Plate Servings, 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 (10 ounce) boxes frozen leaf spinach (thawed and squeezed)
1 (1 lb) box angel hair pasta (you could also use thin spaghetti is you want)
4 teaspoons minced garlic
1 large shallot, thin sliced
8 anchovy fillets, chopped (canned)
5 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted (3 crushed, 2 whole)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
4 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter (no margarine)
grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Spinach -- Just thaw and squeeze dry and set to the side. It will take only a couple of minutes to heat up in the sauce.
  • Pasta -- Again, takes just minutes for Angel Hair pasta to cook so make sure you sauce is done or at least started. This dish only takes minutes.
  • For the pasta cook according to directions - a large pot of salted water. when done, drain and set to the side to keep warm.
  • Sauce -- In a large saute pan, add the oil and and bring to a medium high heat. Add the pine nuts and toast until golden brown. They will only take a minute and stir often. Remove to a paper towel to let them drain. Then add the garlic and shallot and cook two minutes until they start to get golden brown, add the anchovies and cook another minute. Add the spinach breaking it up as you add it to the pan along with the butter and cook 2-3 minutes.
  • Pine Nuts -- I take about 1/2 or a little less and break them up a bit. You can just use the back of a fork or you can put them in a baggie and just hit them with the bottom of a pan or bowl to slightly crush them. You just want to break them up a bit.
  • Finishing -- Pasta should be done and drained. Simply add the pasta to the sauce pan along with the pine nuts, lemon juice and zest and toss well.
  • Garnish with fresh grated parmesan. Literally a 20 minute dish and absolutely delish! And if you think you didn't like anchovies, you will.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 753.6, Fat 32.7, SaturatedFat 8.4, Cholesterol 29.7, Sodium 483, Carbohydrate 94, Fiber 8.2, Sugar 4.4, Protein 24.1

ARTICHOKE SPINACH PASTA SAUCE



Artichoke Spinach Pasta Sauce image

A yummy dish I came up with over a batch of spinach artichoke dip. Serve over hot pasta immediately with French bread. If you prefer a pasta sauce that is not so chunky, process artichokes in food processor. Instead of a 1/2 cup of water use 1 cup water or add a second jar of Alfredo sauce.

Provided by JENNYCUP

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

½ (13.5 ounce) can chopped spinach
1 (16 ounce) jar Alfredo sauce
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
¼ (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 Roma tomato, diced
½ cup water

Steps:

  • Puree spinach in food processor until smooth.
  • Whisk spinach, Alfredo sauce, artichoke hearts, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, garlic, and tomato together in a pot.
  • Pour water into Alfredo sauce jar and top with lid. Shake water in jar to release last remnants of Alfredo sauce, and stir into pot with Alfredo sauce mixture.
  • Cook Alfredo sauce mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cheeses have melted and sauce is bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 247.1 calories, Carbohydrate 8.1 g, Cholesterol 38.1 mg, Fat 21.2 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 8.2 g, SaturatedFat 9.3 g, Sodium 855 mg, Sugar 2.5 g

CHICKEN, MUSHROOM AND SPINACH PASTA WITH BLUE CHEESE SAUCE



Chicken, Mushroom and Spinach pasta with blue cheese sauce image

Make and share this Chicken, Mushroom and Spinach pasta with blue cheese sauce recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Rogue Red

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, diced
1 lb pasta, any kind
2 cups mushrooms, chopped in half
1 medium onion
1 cup cooked chopped spinach, from frozen or fresh
2 ounces blue cheese
10 ounces low-fat sour cream or 10 ounces yoghurt
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Steps:

  • Prepare the pasta, according to package directions, while you make the rest of the meal.
  • Put half the olive oil in a large pan, add the diced chicken and brown- set aside.
  • Put the rest of the olive oil in the pan and add the onions and mushrooms.
  • Cook until the juices from the mushrooms disappear (about 5- 7 mins) Add the chicken and spinach and mix thoroughly.
  • Add the sour cream and blue cheese and stir over a low heat until the blue cheese is melted.
  • Add the cooked pasta and stir to mix.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

HERB CHEESE AND SPINACH SAUCE WITH PASTA



Herb Cheese and Spinach Sauce With Pasta image

This sauce has 3 ingredients and will be ready in the time it takes to cook the pasta. I like Aloutte cream/boursin cheese with this.

Provided by cookiedog

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 15m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 lb pasta, cooked
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 lb fresh spinach (stemmed and washed but not dried, and torn into pieces)
6 ounces cream cheese with garlic and herbs

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Add wet spinach; cover pan; cook until spinach is wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Stir in cream cheese and salt and pepper to taste until cheese is melted.(You can also add a couple of tablespoons of water or milk if desired).
  • To serve, spoon over 1 pound of pasta, cooked.

CHICKEN & BACON PASTA WITH SPINACH & TOMATOES IN GARLIC CREAM SAUCE RECIPE - (4.2/5)



Chicken & Bacon Pasta with Spinach & Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe - (4.2/5) image

Provided by á-179252

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound chicken breast, or tenders
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (thyme, oregano, basil - combined)
5 medium tomatoes, chopped in large cubes
1 cup cooked spinach
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
6 bacon strips, cooked and chopped
1 1/3 cups half and half
1 1/3 cups Parmesan cheese, shredded
10 ounces uncooked penne pasta
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil until hot, in a large skillet . Add chicken and cook on one side on high heat for 1 minute. While it cooks, sprinkle the uncooked sides of the chicken with paprika and Italian seasoning. Flip the chicken over, and cook on the other side for 1 minute on high heat. Reduce heat to medium, flip chicken over again and cook, covered, for several minutes until no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken from the pan and keep chicken warm. To the same pan (but without chicken), add chopped tomatoes, spinach, garlic, crushed red pepper, 1/3 of the chicken (sliced into small strips) and half the bacon (it should be already cooked and drained of fat). Stir until well mixed. Add half and half and bring to boil, add grated Parmesan cheese: Reduce to simmer and stir, until the cheese melts and the sauce is creamy, only about 1 minute (at most 2 minutes). Remove from heat. Season with more crushed red pepper and salt, if needed. In the mean time, cook pasta according to package instructions. Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Add remaining half of baon (already cooked and drained of fat). Season with more salt if necessary. Slice the remaining 2/3 of chicken into thin strips. To serve, top the pasta with chicken strips and grated Parmesan cheese.

SPINACH PASTA SAUCE



Spinach Pasta Sauce image

People are always surprised to hear that the "secret" ingredient in this special sauce is to add a touch of anise. The herb nicely complements the zippy Italian sausage and chunky tomatoes.-Margaret Allen, Abingdon, Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h25m

Yield 8-10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

1-1/2 pounds bulk mild Italian sausage
3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup each chopped carrot, green pepper and onion
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup beef broth or red wine
3/4 teaspoon each aniseed, seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar, dried basil and oregano
4 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
Hot cooked pasta
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven, cook and crumble sausage until browned; drain. Add mushrooms, carrot, green pepper and onion; saute for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, sauce, paste, Parmesan, broth and seasonings; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add spinach; heat through. Serve over pasta; top with mozzarella and bacon.

Nutrition Facts :

SPINACH PASTA WITH SALMON AND CREAM SAUCE



Spinach Pasta with Salmon and Cream Sauce image

Make and share this Spinach Pasta with Salmon and Cream Sauce recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Sharon123

Categories     < 60 Mins

Time 40m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 cups heavy cream
4 tablespoons sweet butter
7 teaspoons salt
1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 lb fresh spinach pasta, narrower noodles preferred
1 tablespoon grated imported parmesan cheese
1 1/2-2 cups flaked poached salmon, all skin and bones removed
1/3 cup chopped fresh dill, plus additional dill sprigs for garnish

Steps:

  • Bring the cream and half of the butter to a simmer in a small saucepan.
  • Add 1 tsp.
  • of the salt, and the nutmeg, continue to simmer until cream is reduced by about one third.
  • Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot, add remaining 6 tsp.
  • of salt, and drop in the noodles.
  • Meanwhile, stir grated Parmesan, then the flaked salmon and 1/3 cup shopped dill into the cream, and remove from heat.
  • Remember, fresh pasta is ready in 2 to 3 minutes at the most.
  • Drain pasta, return it to the hot pan and toss with remaining butter until butter is melted.
  • Divide pasta equally among 6 heated plates and spoon salmon cream sauce over each portion.
  • Garnish with a sprig of fresh dill and serve at once.

A1 PASTA WITH STEAK WITH A1 SPINACH AIOLI SAUCE #A1



A1 Pasta With Steak With A1 Spinach Aioli Sauce #A1 image

Make and share this A1 Pasta With Steak With A1 Spinach Aioli Sauce #A1 recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Angelique T.

Categories     Sauces

Time 35m

Yield 2-3 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon mayonnaise
3 teaspoons lemon juice
1 pint virgin olive oil
2 skirt steaks
2 tablespoons A.1. Original Sauce
8 ounces pasta
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon garlic
6 ounces fresh spinach
1 ounce parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • boil 16 ounces of water for pasta, add a pinch of salt.
  • once water comes to a boil, add uncooked pasta for 7 to 8 minutes, a la dente.
  • season your steaks with a tablespoon on each of A1 sauce.
  • cook steak for five minutes on each side on a low to medium heat.
  • take pasta off once done, drain water off from pasta into a colander.
  • let your steak rest for about 5 minutes to seal in the juices, before slicing thinly into thin strips.
  • plate your pasta, put your thin strips of steak on top.
  • make your Aioli Sauce.
  • blend 3 egg yolks, 1 pint of virgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of minced garlic.
  • Add 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice at the end of the sauce if too thick, too unthicken (5 minutes).
  • Warm your sauce with the spinach for about 5 minutes.
  • Drizzle the sauce with the spinach over the plated pasta and steak.
  • May grate some fresh parmesan on top of each plate.
  • Enjoy your A1 Pasta with Steak with A1 Spinach Aioli Sauce A1.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 875.3, Fat 34.7, SaturatedFat 10.1, Cholesterol 327.1, Sodium 471.5, Carbohydrate 91.5, Fiber 5.8, Sugar 4.1, Protein 47.9

PASTA WITH SPINACH-BASIL SAUCE



PASTA WITH SPINACH-BASIL SAUCE image

Categories     Pasta

Yield 8 people

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup shallots, minced
1 pound spinach, stemmed and washed
1 bunch basil, stemmed (4 to 5 cups lightly packed)
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 pounds fettuccine

Steps:

  • 1. In small saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Cook shallots, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, submerge spinach and basil in a large pot of simmering salted water; drain immediately. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible; transfer spinach and basil to a food processor. 3. Add shallots, ricotta, Parmesan, and nutmeg; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Process until smooth. 4. Cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Toss pasta with spinach sauce; thin with pasta water, as needed. Serve with extra grated Parmesan, if desired.

PASTA WITH SPINACH BASIL SAUCE



PASTA WITH SPINACH BASIL SAUCE image

Categories     Pasta

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 lb spinach stemmed and washed
1/3 cup minced shallots
4 loose cups basil
1/2 cup grated park
1/2 cup ricotta
1.5 tsp coarse salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Steps:

  • Cook shallots in 2 tbsp olive oil over medium low heat until soft. Submerge basil and spinach in simmering salted water and drain immediately. Squeeze out water. Process basil, spinach, shallots, ricotta, parm, nutmeg, salt and pepper and process til smooth. Cook Fettucine until al dente and save 1 cup water. Toss pasta with sauce and thin with pasta water as needed.

Tips:

  • Prep Your Ingredients: To streamline the cooking process, wash and chop all vegetables and herbs before starting. Additionally, grate the cheese and set aside to save time.
  • Use Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients: Opt for fresh spinach and vegetables for optimal flavor and texture. Fresh herbs like basil and parsley add vibrant flavor. Use high-quality olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese for the best taste.
  • Cook the Spinach Properly: To preserve its vibrant color and nutrients, quickly blanch the spinach in boiling water for a few seconds, then immediately transfer it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Squeeze out excess water before using.
  • Simmer Slowly and Patiently: The key to a flavorful sauce is to simmer it gently over low heat. This allows the flavors to meld and deepen, resulting in a rich and satisfying sauce.
  • Adjust Seasoning to Taste: While the recipe provides a starting point for seasoning, always taste the sauce and adjust the salt, pepper, and garlic powder to suit your personal preference.

Conclusion:

This versatile and delicious spinach pasta sauce can elevate any pasta dish with its vibrant green color, creamy texture, and savory flavor. Whether you choose to incorporate it into a simple weeknight meal or serve it as a special occasion dish, this sauce is sure to impress. Its versatility allows you to customize it with various herbs, spices, and vegetables to suit your taste preferences, making it a perfect addition to your culinary repertoire. Enjoy the taste of fresh spinach and the creamy texture of this sauce with your favorite pasta, vegetables, or protein for a satisfying and nutritious meal.

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