Save on the washing up with this tasty pasta dish cooked in one pan. Adding cottage cheese and spinach boosts protein and fibre.

SERVES 4

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 medium onion

1 carrot

1 stick celery

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 garlic cloves

2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

1 teaspoon dried oregano

500ml water

300g dried penne pasta

150g cottage cheese

2 large handfuls of spinach (50g)

Salt & pepper

Vegetarian Italian hard cheese

EQUIPMENT

Knife

Chopping board

Peeler

Measuring spoons

Wooden spoon

Measuring jug

Deep frying/sauté pan

and lid

Small bowl

Fork

ALLERGENS

Celery, Gluten, Milk

SAFE STORING & REHEATING

Cool, refrigerate and eat within 3 days.

Reheat gently until piping hot.

You may need to add a little water

METHOD

  1. Peel the onion and chop finely.

  2. Peel the carrot and chop into small cubes.

  3. Trim the ends off the celery and chop into small cubes.

  4. Remove woody stalks from spinach, then chop roughly (if using baby spinach, you can skip this stage).

  5. Heat the oil in the pan. Add the chopped onion, carrots and celery. Stir, cover and cook on medium-low heat for about 5-10 minutes until soft, stirring often.

  6. Peel the garlic and chop finely. 

  7. Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 2 minutes.

  8. Add the tinned tomatoes, oregano, pasta and 500ml boiling water. Cover and bring to a gentle boil, then turn down the heat. Cook gently for around 10-12 minutes until the pasta is cooked, stirring occasionally.

  9. In a small bowl, mash the cottage cheese with a fork. Stir in a few spoonfuls of the hot sauce, then mix everything back into the pan,

  10. Add the spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes until it has softened. 

  11. Season with salt and pepper and serve with some grated parmesan.

TIP

Blending the cottage cheese before adding it results in a creamier sauce.

Use wholewheat penne for added fibre.