Spinach & "Sausage" Bow Tie Pasta Bake
By: Patricia Conte
Published: Sunday, April 3, 2011 - 8:33pm

Ingredients




8 ounces bow tie pasta
2 soy-based sausage links, sliced into small pieces
6 ounces chopped frozen spinach
8 ounces ricotta cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 ounces prepared pasta sauce
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt& pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese to garnish
Non-stick cooking spray

Preparation

1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F 2 Spray 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray 3 Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente 4 In a medium-sized bowl, fold together the sausage, ricotta, mozzarella, spinach, a pinch each of salt & pepper and red pepper flakes 5 Using a quarter of the pasta sauce, spoon a thin layer of sauce onto the bottom of baking dish 6 Using a third of the pasta, spoon a layer on top of the sauce 7 Using half the cheese & sausage mixture, add it to the top of the pasta layer 8 Continue to alternate layers until all ingredients are used, with the sauce as the last layer 9 Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese 10 Bake covered for 25 minutes, then uncovered for 5 minutes

About


This colorful, Italian-inspired dish is a great vegetarian meal option. You can easily substitute regular sausage in this recipe, but make certain to cook it first. This is an easy recipe you can toss together to serve to family or friends. Great with crunchy, artisan bread and a fresh green salad.