Cheesy Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake

Name: Cheesy Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 300 g ziti pasta; 1 lb ricotta; 1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese; 350 g frozen chopped spinach; 700 g tomato passata; 2 clove garlic cloves, minced; 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp dried Italian Mixed Herbs; 1/2 tsp dried chili flakes; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp salt; 3/4 tsp salt & pepper; 1 pinch black pepper; 2 tbsp water

A comforting and hearty vegetarian dinner featuring tender ziti pasta tossed in a creamy spinach and ricotta filling. Topped with a zesty herb-infused tomato sauce and melted mozzarella, this bake is a guaranteed family favorite.

Servings6 Portions

Prep Time15 Mins

Cook Time40 Mins

Difficulty

Easy

Ingredients

ziti pasta
300 g
ricotta
1 lb
mozzarella cheese
0.5 cup
Parmesan cheese
0.5 cup
frozen chopped spinach
350 g
tomato passata
700 g
garlic cloves, minced
2 clove
extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp
onion powder
1 tsp
garlic powder
1 tsp
dried Italian Mixed Herbs
2 tsp
dried chili flakes
0.5 tsp
sugar
1 tsp
salt
1 tsp
salt & pepper
0.8 tsp
black pepper
1 pinch
water
2 tbsp

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and lightly grease a large heatproof baking dish.

Prepare the pasta sauce by pouring out about 1/4 cup of the tomato passata from the bottle to make space. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, dried Italian herbs, chili flakes, sugar, salt, and black pepper directly into the bottle. Screw the lid on tightly and shake well until the seasonings are fully incorporated.

Cook the ziti pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water for 1 minute less than the package instructions to keep it al dente.

Before draining the pasta, scoop out approximately 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water and set it aside. Drain the pasta thoroughly.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, thawed and squeezed-dry spinach, parmesan cheese, minced garlic, and olive oil. Stir in a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to make the mixture smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.