Baked Vegetable Pasta

 Pasta is pasta. Baked pasta is something different for tonight.

Pasta Di Verdure Al Forno (Italain)

Severs 6

Preheat the oven to 400F (200C)

3 cups (390 g) (gluten-free) uncooked ziti, rigatoni, or penne pasta

1 Tbs. (15 ml) olive oil

1 chopped organic onion

sliced organic mushrooms

slices organic: carrots, bell pepper, zucchini

minced organic garlic

2 cans (14.5 ounces each) (total 820 g) organic minced tomatoes

1 can (15 ounce) (430 ml) organic tomato sauce

(dairy-free) shredded cheese

garnish fresh basil

optional: other vegetables of choice

uno 1. Cook the pasta, about 2 minutes less than directed on the package, drain and set aside.

due 2. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

tre 3. Sauté the vegetables for about 8 minutes.

quattro 4. Add the garlic and paprika, cook another minute.

cinque 5. Stir in the tomato sauce and bring to a boil over high heat.

sei 6. Reduce to medium-high and cook about 10 minutes more.

sette 7. Stir in the cooked pasta and basil. 

otto 8. Spoon half of the pasta mixture over the bottom of a baking dish.

nove 9. Sprinkle with the cheese.

dieci 10. Add the rest of the pasta and sprinkle more cheese over the top.

undici 11. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

dodici 12. Let it stand for 5 minutes.

tredici 13. Add more basil before serving.

quattordici 14. Refrigerate any leftovers.