Baked Pasta With Spinach Recipes

CHEESY SPINACH BAKED PENNE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Mist a 2 to 2 1/2-quart rectangular or oval baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to package directions for al dente.
• While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in a medium pot set over medium heat. Add the fennel seeds and garlic and cook until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, basil sprig, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Simmer, lowering the heat if the sauce bubbles too vigorously, until the sauce has thickened slightly, the flavors have blended together and the raw tomato taste has cooked out, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, discard the basil and season with additional salt and pepper. Pour over the cooked pasta and toss well to coat. Add the cubed mozzarella and transfer half the pasta to the prepared baking dish.
• Put the cottage cheese in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Add the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan and pulse two to three times. Combine half the cottage cheese mixture with the spinach and mix to break up the spinach. Drop in spoonfuls over the pasta in the baking dish. Top the spinach layer with the rest of the pasta and then the remaining cottage cheese mixture.
• Bake until bubbly and golden brown on top, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes, and then scatter the torn basil over the top.

BAKED PASTA WITH SPINACH, LEMON AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 minutes or until almost al dente, omitting salt and fat.
• Remove from heat; stir in spinach. Let stand for 2 minutes or until spinach wilts. Drain pasta mixture well.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion; cook 15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently.
• Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Add flour and garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk.
• Gradually add milk and wine; cook 8 minutes or until sauce boils and thickens, stirring constantly.
• Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and rind. Remove from heat; stir in pepper.
• Add pasta mixture, and toss gently to coat.
• Spoon pasta mixture into a 13x9 inch-glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle half of panko breadcrumbs over pasta, and top evenly with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
• Sprinkle the remaining half of panko breadcrumbs over cheese.
• Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

BAKED PASTA WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook pasta in rapidly boiling water until done.
• Meanwhile whisk cream cheese and milk until smooth.
• Add spinach and Parmesan cheese to cream cheese mixture--stir to combine.
• Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper (set aside).
• Drain cooked pasta and mix with spaghetti sauce.
• Layer half the pasta in a 9x13 baking dish---spread cream cheese mixture over pasta layer.
• Top with remaining pasta.
• Cover with foil and bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes.
• Remove foil sprinkle with mozzarella and bake an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.