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.
|
Serves: 2 |
Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time: 30 mins |
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Strain the pasta and keep aside for now.
- 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.
- Then add the Italian herbs, spinach, pasta sauce and give a good mix. Switch off the heat.
- Now add the drained pasta and stir well once again till the pasta is well coated with the sauce.
- 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.
- Over this, pour the remaining pasta, tomatoes and cheese and sprinkle little salt and pepper if required.
- 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.
- Serve hot with bread sticks or garlic bread as a side.
Note:
- 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.
- You may also add any other vegetables of your choice.
