Baked Pasta with sauteed Vegetables

This is my version of baked veggie pasta. After a long struggle of about 2 years I finally arrived at this recipe and have been loving it ever since.

Ingredients:
Wheat pasta (penne/spiral/bow-tie) – 2 cups (I used spiral)
Carrots – 1 cup (cut into bite-size long thick pieces)
Beetroot – ½ cup (cut into bite size pieces)
Green bell pepper (capsicum) – 1 cup (cut into bite-size pieces)
Spinach/palak leaves – 1 cup (roughly chopped)
Corn kernels – ½ cup
Green peas/mutter – ½ cup
Tomato – ½ cup (cut into round thin pieces)
Cheese (mozzarella) – 1 cup (grated)
Salt – to taste
Pepper – 1 tsp
Italian mixed herbs – 1 tsp
Pasta sauce – 1 cup

Procedure:

1. Boil about 4-5 cups of water in a large vessel. Add a pinch of salt and ½ tsp oil to it. This will prevent the pasta from sticking together.
2. Add the pasta and cook for about 5 minutes. Make sure that you do not completely cook the pasta. Cook till it is 85-90% done.
3. Strain the pasta and keep aside for now.
4. Heat oil in a deep-pan and add the carrots, beetroot, bell pepper, corn and green peas. Add salt and pepper and ½ cup water. Cover with lid and cook till the carrots are well cooked.
5. Then add the Italian herbs, spinach, pasta sauce and give a good mix. Switch off the heat.
6. Now add the drained pasta and stir well once again till the pasta is well coated with the sauce.
7. Take a baking tray and pour half the prepared pasta into it. Top it up with half the tomato rounds and sprinkle half the amount of cheese grated.
8. Over this, pour the remaining pasta, tomatoes and cheese and sprinkle little salt and pepper if required.
9. Place this in a pre-heated oven at 200°C and bake for about 12-15 minutes or until the cheese melts and a nice crust is formed.
10. Serve hot with bread sticks or garlic bread as a side.

Note:

1. I did not add too much chilli or pepper since the pasta sauce will take care of it. If your sauce is mild, you may add more chilli to the vegetables.
2. You may also add any other vegetables of your choice.

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