Awesome Penne Spinach Bake
Recipe: #3640
December 21, 2011
Categories: Casseroles, Penne, Spinach, Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Potluck, Sunday Dinner, Oven Bake, Vegetarian, Kosher Dairy, Vegetarian Dinner, more
"This is one of my favorite casseroles, watch the salt as the Parmesan cheese is salty"
Ingredients
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- TOPPING
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Nutritional
- Serving Size: 1 (329.1 g)
- Calories 623.7
- Total Fat - 37.8 g
- Saturated Fat - 22.1 g
- Cholesterol - 100.4 mg
- Sodium - 617.4 mg
- Total Carbohydrate - 53.7 g
- Dietary Fiber - 6.7 g
- Sugars - 4.3 g
- Protein - 20.7 g
- Calcium - 544.5 mg
- Iron - 2.8 mg
- Vitamin C - 23 mg
- Thiamin - 0.3 mg
Step by Step Method
Step 1
Set oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan.
Step 2
Cook the pasta only to firm-tender (don't overcook, as the pasta will cook more when baked in the oven, omit the salt in the water) drain, set aside.
Step 3
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over med-high heat. Add in the chopped onion and garlic; saute for about 3 minutes. Whisk in the flour, thyme, nutmeg and black pepper; cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in the half and half; cook for 4 minutes, until thick and bubbly.
Step 4
Add in the grated Swiss cheese, and the Parmesan cheese; mix well over low heat, until the cheese has melted, and the sauce is hot and bubbly; remove the saucepan from the heat.
Step 5
In a large bowl, combine the cream/cheese sauce, 1/2 cup of the remaining Swiss cheese (it is not necessery to add the remaining 1/2 cup cheese, you may omit if desired), chopped tomato, and the spinach; stir well. Spoon the mixture into a prepared greased baking pan.
Step 6
For topping; In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, melted butter and the Parmesan cheese; sprinkle the mixture over the casserole in the baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Tips
No special items needed.