Vegetarian Pasta Bake with Pepitas
(2 votes)
(2 votes)
Health Score:
81 / 100
Difficulty:
easy
Difficulty
Preparation:
1 hr 25 min.
Preparation
Healthy, because
Even smarter
While this is a higher-calorie dish, the tomatoes add plenty of vitamins and antioxidats while the zucchini adds valuable minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium.
Before serving, sprinkle some parmesean cheese on top and broil for a few minutes to add a beautiful, golden crust to this dish.
Author of this recipe:
EAT-SMARTER
all recipes of this author
Ingredients
for
4
- For the filling
- 4 Zucchini (sliced)
- 16 ozs red and yellow Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic cloves (crushed)
- 2 Tbsps chopped thyme
- 3 Tbsps olive oil
- 0.333 cup grated Mozzarella
- salt
- freshly ground Black pepper
- For the sauce
- 2 ¼ Tbsps flour
- ⅙ cup butter
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ tsp grated Nutmeg
- 3 Tbsps grated Parmesan
- salt (to taste)
- peppers (to taste)
- 9 sheets Lasagne noodle
- For the topping
- 2 Tbsps Sunflower seed
Preparation steps
1.
For the filling: Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2.
Put the vegetables and garlic in a roasting tin (reserve a few tomato halves for the topping) and add the thyme and oil. Toss well together until the vegetables are coated in oil. Cook for 20-25 minutes until tender. Remove from the oven and set aside.
3.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Grease a large baking dish.
4.
For the sauce: put all the ingredients except the cheese in a pan and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan until melted and smooth. Remove the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper.
5.
Pour 1/4 of the sauce into the baking dish, followed by 1/3 of the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle in 1/3 of the Mozzarella, then add a single layer of lasagne sheets. Repeat the process, ending with a layer of sauce. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan and arrange the reserved tomato halves on top. Sprinkle with the sunflower seeds and bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbling and golden.
