CHEESY VEGGIE BAKED PASTA

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Cheesy Veggie Baked Pasta image

Add carrot, zucchini and spinach to this pasta dish loaded with mozzarella and fontina.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h5m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup fresh ricotta
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound dried medium penne
1 cup shredded carrots
1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
6 cups baby spinach
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
1 cup grated ricotta salata or Parmesan
1 1/2 cups shredded Italian fontina

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of the tomatoes, the cream, and 3/4 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the ricotta and season with salt and pepper.
  • While the sauce simmers, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the carrots, zucchini and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and stir until just wilted. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Cook the penne in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions instructs. Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl with the cooked vegetables.
  • Add the tomato sauce, the mozzarella and half of the ricotta salata to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta-vegetable mixture to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the fontina and the remaining ricotta salata. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta rest about 10 minutes before serving.

Akram Jaan
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I followed the recipe exactly but my dish turned out watery. I'm not sure what went wrong.


Suleman Alam
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This dish was bland and boring. I won't be making it again.


Aaron ross
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I'm not sure why this recipe is called 'cheesy veggie baked pasta' because I didn't taste any cheese.


NAME NAME NAME NAME
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This dish is perfect for a potluck or party.


Irfan Md irfan
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I love that this dish is so versatile. You can add or remove vegetables depending on what you have on hand.


Lil Sammy Three
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This recipe is a great way to use up leftover vegetables.


Ijaz Ahmed
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I've made this dish several times now and it's always a crowd-pleaser. The flavors are perfect and the pasta is always cooked perfectly.


Abenet Sultan
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This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal. It's quick and easy to make, and it's always a hit with my family.


becky pett
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I'm not a big fan of vegetables, but this dish was surprisingly good. The cheese sauce really helped to mask the taste of the vegetables.


Yeon bhuyain
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This recipe is a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables.


AbdulRehman Officle
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I made this dish last night and it was delicious! The pasta was cooked perfectly and the vegetables were still a little crunchy, just the way I like them. The cheese sauce was also very good, with a nice sharp flavor.


Victoria Lee
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This cheesy veggie baked pasta was a hit with my family! The vegetables were perfectly tender and the cheese sauce was creamy and flavorful. I will definitely be making this again.