Pasta is most usually not considered junk food. It is a staple diet for many ethnicities. Not that pasta is unhealthy, but nowadays you get pasta made from other healthier ingredients as well. Whole-grain pasta or red lentil pasta may be a better choice for many, as it is lower in calories and carbs but higher in fiber and nutrients. Enjoy making this easy baked recipe specially for “The Veggies Lovers” .
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 cups penne pasta or any other pasta / macaroni variety
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cup milk
- 2 cups pasta sauce
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- ½ medium sized zucchini – peeled (if desired) and chopped
- ½ medium carrot- chopped
- 6-8 olives pitted and sliced
- ½ medium red, yellow, green capsicum – chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms – chopped/ sliced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- ½ cup boiled sweet corn kernels
- 1 medium onion – chopped
- 1 medium tomato or ½ cup cherry tomatoes – chopped
- 2-3 tablespoon salt
- 2-3 tablespoon black pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
- Herbs (dried or fresh) like oregano, basil leaves
- water (to boil pasta)
METHOD:
1. Half boil pasta with some salt and oil added to it while boiling. Drain out water when half cooked.
2. Add olive oil in a pan and saute all chopped vegetables starting with onions. Add tomatoes towards the end. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper and herbs like basil, oregano.
3. Now boiled pasta and sauteed vegetables are ready. Keep them aside.
4. For white sauce, in a saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute.
5.Now the interesting part begins. Layering !!
Take a baking pan / dish. Spread the following items nicely and evenly
First the pasta sauce ( I have used ready made Classico Tomato and Basil pasta sauce; picture attached below),
Then a layer of cooked and sauteed vegetables,
Then add onto it the white sauce,
Now spread half the boiled pasta evenly on top of the white sauce,
Lay a layer of grated mozzarella cheese and finally a layer of remaining half boiled pasta.
Top it up with some olives and Parmesan cheese.
6.Bake at 350 F/180 C for 20-25 mins or till the cheese on top turns golden brown.
VOILA ! Your Rich Creamy Baked Vegetable Pasta is ready, garnish it with some fresh basil and enjoy it with a glass of wine !!
TIP:
*You can prepare white sauce in advance, refrigerate it for up to 4-5
days and it just needs to be gently reheated prior to use.
Let us know what you think! Comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #themomandmore