Baked Whole Wheat Pasta With Spinach And Mozzarella Recipes

BAKED WHOLE WHEAT PASTA WITH SPINACH AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Almonds -- In a medium dry saute pan on medium high heat, add the almonds and cook a couple of minutes until they get golden brown. Keep an eye of them, they do not take long.
• Fresh Bread Crumbs -- If you are using dry bread crumbs, skip this step.
• Chop up the bread fairly fine. Then in that same saute pan you used to toast your almonds in, bring to medium high heat and add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Toss in the bread crumbs, seasoning and toast until golden brown. They only take 1-2 minutes and stir often.
• Pasta -- Cook the pasta according to package direction in salted boiling water. Drain well, return to the pot and toss with the olive oil and set to the side off the heat. As the pasta cooks, saute your vegetables.
• Vegetables -- Once again, use that same saute pan and add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and heat to medium medium/high heat. Add the garlic, onion and little salt and pepper and saute 2-3 minutes, then toss in the spinach and saute just a few seconds until the spinach is slightly wilted. Don't cook more than just a few seconds. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 of the lemon zest and 1 cup of the almonds. Add to the pasta along with the chicken broth. Check for seasoning, salt and pepper. Personally, I like to add some extra pepper.
• Bake -- In a 13x9 or similar size baking dish, sprayed with Pam or any non-stick spray, add the remaining lemon zest. Then add 1/2 of the pasta, 1/2 the cheese; then the rest of the pasta, and the rest of the cheese. Sprinkle with the almonds, and then top with the bread crumbs and cover with foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes until the bread crumbs get golden brown.
• Serve -- ENJOY! I like to keep it a bit healthy and serve with a bowl of tomato soup and a baguette with melted cheese.

BAKED PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large frying pan, heat oil.
• Saute Zucchini until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to an oiled shallow casserole dish.
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water, when pasta is almost cooked, drain and add to Zucchini.
• Add tomatoes, olives, Parmesan, rosemary and 1/2 of the mozzarella.
• Sprinkle with a little more salt and pepper; if desired.
• Gently mix together.
• Cover with the remaining mozzarella.
• Bake until cheese is melted and the top is slightly browned, about 15 minutes.

BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH, SAUSAGE, AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add sausage, onion, and garlic, and saute until sausage cooked through, about 10 minutes, breaking up meat with back of spoon. Add tomatoes with juice to pan. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Stir in pesto sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lightly oil 13 x 9 glass baking dish. Combine pasta, spinach, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese in large bowl. Stir in hot tomato sauce. Mix gently until spinach is wilted. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese over top. Bake until sauce bubbles and cheese melt, about 30 minutes.

PASTA WITH TOMATO, SPINACH, AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Heat up your saute pan on the stove. Once it is hot, add your olive oil to the pan.
• Start to boil your water for your pasta. Once the water has started to boil, add pasta and cook according to directions on box.
• Add your sliced garlic to the pan, and cook until brown. Once the garlic has brown, remove from the pan and set aside.
• Add your tomatoes to the hot saute pan. Cook for approximately 3 minutes before adding your spinach.
• Cook the tomatoes and spinach until the spinach has started to wilt.
• Once the pasta is finished, add pasta, tomatoes and spinach, garlic and mozzarella to a large bowl. Blend together.

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.