with Spiced Veg and Cheesy Crumb Topping
Pasta bakes are a crowd-pleasing dish, typically pairing tomatoey sauces with gooey melted cheese. Here, we're adding warming Mexican inspired spices, plenty of veg and finishing with a cheesy crumb for a contrasting, crispy texture.
Allergens
Utensils
Tags
Penne Pasta
180 grams
Bell Pepper
1 unit(s)
Garlic Clove
2 unit(s)
British Beef Mince
480 grams
Central American Style Spice Mix
1 sachet(s)
Worcester Sauce
15 grams
Finely Chopped Tomatoes with Onion and Garlic
1 carton(s)
Red Wine Stock Paste
28 grams
Breadcrumbs
25 grams
Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese
20 grams
Baby Spinach
100 grams
Water for the Sauce
100 milliliter(s)
Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark 7.
Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with 0.5 tsp salt for the pasta.
Halve the bell pepper and discard the core and seeds. Chop into 3cm chunks.
Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press).
Heat a large frying pan on medium-high heat (no oil).
Once hot, add the beef mince and cook until browned, 4-5 mins. Use a spoon to break it up as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper. IMPORTANT: Wash your hands and equipment after handling raw mince.
Once browned, add the pepper to the pan and continue to cook until slightly softened, 5 mins.
Make kid friendly: If you’d prefer to serve the veg on the side, heat a drizzle of oil in another frying pan on medium high heat and add the pepper. Stir fry until softened, 5-7 mins and set the pan aside.
Stir the garlic, Central American style spice mix (add less if you don't like heat) and Worcester sauce into the beef. Cook, stirring, for 1 min.
Add the chopped tomatoes, red wine stock paste and water for the sauce (see pantry for amount). Season with salt and pepper.
Stir to combine, then simmer until thickened, 10-12 mins. IMPORTANT: The mince is cooked when no longer pink in the middle.
While the sauce simmers, add the penne to the pan of boiling water and bring back to the boil. Cook until tender, 12 mins.
Meanwhile, add the breadcrumbs and hard Italian style cheese to a small bowl with a drizzle of oil. Season with salt and pepper, then mix well.
Once the sauce has simmered, add the spinach to the pan a handful at a time until wilted and piping hot, 1-2 mins.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain in a colander, then add to the beef sauce.
Mix together, then transfer to an ovenproof baking dish and sprinkle over the cheesy breadcrumbs.
Bake on the top shelf of your oven until the top is golden, 8-10 mins.
When ready, leave the pasta bake to stand for a couple of mins before serving, then share between your bowls.
Serve the veg alongside if you've cooked it separately.
4329
kJ
Energy (kJ)
1035
kcal
Energy (kcal)
34
g
Fat
15.4
g
of which saturates
105.6
g
Carbohydrate
25.9
g
of which sugars
7.6
g
Dietary Fibre
73.3
g
Protein
5.18
g
Salt
with Spiced Veg and Cheesy Crumb Topping
with Spiced Veg and Cheesy Crumb Topping