BAKED PASTA RECIPE | DINNER IDEAS
Ingredients
- 1.25 cup Penne pasta
- 6 cups water
- Salt as needed
- 1 tablespoon butter/ Olive oil
- 2 cups Spinach I used baby spinach
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder or 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
- ½ teaspoon Smoked paprika or Cayenne pepper/ chilli flakes
- ½ teaspoon Italian herb like dried oregano
- ¼ cup Cream cheese
- ¾ cup Pasta sauce I used one with basil
- 1 cup Grated Mozzarella cheese plus more if needed
Instructions
- Bring 6 cups water to boil and cook pasta as per directions given in the package.
- Once al dente, keep aside. Reserve ¼ cup pasta cooked water in case you need later.
- Clean and chop spinach roughly.
- In a heavy bottomed pan, heat butter or olive oil.
- Tip in the chopped spinach. Sprinkle sugar and saute 2 mins in medium heat.
- Pour pasta sauce, 2 tablespoon of reserved pasta cooked water, paprika, cream cheese, garlic powder, cooked pasta and little salt if needed.
- Mix well and cook for a minute. Switch off the flame.
- Preheat oven at 200 deg C for (10-12 mins)
- Transfer the cooked pasta to a baking dish, I usually use one oval and one small round dish.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top to cover the pasta.
- Bake for 12-14 mins or until the cheese turns golden.
- Sprinkle some Italian herb, chilli flakes to serve.
Notes
- Adjust baking temperature plus or minus 10 deg as needed.
- Cover with aluminium foil half way if it starts to brown fast.
- Middle rack is perfect with both heating elements on.