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+ servings

Mediterranean Pasta Bake

This light, healthier and vegetarian pasta bake recipe is a yummy treat! My Mediterranean Pasta Bake will have everyone at the table coming back for seconds.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dinner, Vegetarian
Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean
Servings 4 servings
Calories 355 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ box whole wheat penne pasta, about 7 ½ ounces
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ red onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 2 cloves
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 6 oz jar marinated artichokes, chopped
  • 1 16 oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh oregano, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 ladle of pasta water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 9 oz package of fresh baby spinach
  • 1 cup reduced fat shredded mozzarella
  • 6 ounces of crumbled or cubed feta
  • optional: ¼ cup olives
  • garnish: additional basil leaves
  • cooking spray

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 and spray an 8x8 casserole dish with cooking spray
  • Cook pasta according to directions on box. Cooking for 1 minute less than package says. You want a slight bite still in the pasta.
  • Drain, reserving one ladle of pasta water.
  • While the pasta is cooking, sauté the onion in the olive oil over medium heat until tender (Approx 3-5 minutes.) Add the garlic but be careful not to burn. Sautee until fragrant for about 2 minutes.
  • Add the artichokes, garbanzo beans, basil, oregano, tomato paste, pasta water, salt and pepper. Allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes or until well combined.
  • Add the spinach to the mixture. It will look like a ton at first, but carefully stir with the other ingredients and it will wilt down.
  • As soon as the spinach is wilted mix the veggie mix with the pasta. Add the all of the mozzarella and half of the feta.
  • Pour the mixture in the casserole dish and top with the rest of the feta.
  • Cover with foil and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and cook for another 5.
  • If desired you can turn on the broiler for a few minutes to get a brown crust on the cheese.

Notes

If you serve with a salad you will get 6 servings.

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 27gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 1458mgPotassium: 963mgFiber: 9gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 7655IUVitamin C: 52mgCalcium: 359mgIron: 8mg
Keyword Mediterranean Pasta Bake
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