Sun-dried tomatoes - This adds a really intense tomato flavour to the dish.They are our "secret" ingredient for pasta sauces. You can roast your own, but we think the jarred ones are fine. Roasted red peppers - Just one roasted red pepper chopped up in to the sauce adds loads of extra flavour.You could swap them for half a small onion if you prefer. Shallots - These add a nice sweetness to the spinach and ricotta pasta bake.You can use low fat ricotta, but we find that it isn't as creamy. You have probably had it on a pizza before, but if you have never bought it then you can find it near the cream cheeses in the supermarket. Ricotta - Ricotta is a cream cheese that has kind of a gritty texture.If you want to make this a super lazy time saving meal, then use your favourite pasta sauce instead, and adjust the garlic and herbs. Inexpensive canned tomatoes tend to be really watery, which gives a thin sauce. Try to buy the best quality that you can, as you will be able to taste the difference. Tomatoes - We used a can of cherry tomatoes, as we find that they have the best texture of canned tomatoes.You could use frozen spinach and cook it first before adding to the ricotta. Spinach - A great way to add a green boost to this dish.You can use wholewheat pasta for a fibre boost, but you will need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes. We used penne as that is what we had in the cupboard, but you can also use fusilli, rigatoni or even macaroni. Pasta - The great thing about a pasta bake is that you can use pretty much any pasta you like.Freezes well - We love a batch cook meal to portion out and throw in the freezer for busy school nights and this one is just perfect.We have given options below for extra vegetables as well as different cheeses and protein. Adaptable - Although the only vegetable we have added to this recipe is spinach and some roasted red pepper for flavour, so much more can be added to it.It has cheese and pasta which is usually always a winner with everyone, but also a generous serving of spinach (all chopped up) and lots of options for other vegetables to be added too. This spinach and ricotta pasta bake ticks all the boxes. Family friendly - If you are anything like me, then it's a daily battle trying to find a balance between delicious meals that my whole family will eat, and also knowing that they are eating enough of the good stuff.Once the pasta is cooked and you have mixed together the ricotta and spinach (it's literally that easy), then you just mix it together and throw it in the oven. Easy - Whilst we 100% recommend making your own tomato sauce, even with doing that there is very little effort that goes in to making this. Comforting - Does it get any more comforting than a pasta bake? I don't think so! Carby pasta, creamy cheese and green leafy vegetables.
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