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Baked Penne Recipe

BAKED PENNE PASTA, BISTRO STYLE

Thought those delicious bistro pastas were hard to make? Well, I’ve taken the mystery out and made it easy for you to create a hearty, delicious bistro pasta at home. It’s comfortable either for a family meal or for a casual buffet. This is a great dish to make in a smaller or larger amount - divide this in half if you like, or make double and freeze half.

1 pound penne or other short pasta, boiled and drained
1/2 to 1 pound Italian sausage
2 cups low fat or fat free Ricotta
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (opt)
Sprinkling of garlic powder (opt)
Several generous handfuls of spinach, chopped coarsely (opt)
1 jar, 26 oz approx., favorite Pasta sauce
3-4 cups shredded low fat Mozzarella or equivalent soy Mozzarella
Parmesan cheese for sprinkling on top or equivalent soy Parmesan

Preheat oven to 375. Sauté sausage, crumble and drain. Spray a 9x13 pan. Make layers: Spread Ricotta mixture on bottom, sprinkle with Italian seasoning and garlic powder and then sprinkle spinach and sausage on top. Put pasta on top of sausage, pour sauce on and proceed. Sprinkle with Mozzarella. Cover and bake for about 20 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted. Serve, making sure you get some of the Ricotta with each serving. Serves 8-10.

For those of you who would rather not eat pork, try turkey sausage, and add a sprinkling of ground fennel to it. Or use soy “sausage” and do the same.

My Favorite Baked Penne Recipe.

 

Baked Penne Recipe

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