Easy Penne Tomato (Print)
This Italian pasta combines penne with creamy tomato sauce, spinach, sweet bell peppers, and melted mozzarella. A cozy meal in under an hour.
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
02 -
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 -
4 cups spinach, roughly chopped
04 -
1 green bell pepper, diced
05 -
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
06 -
1 pound cooked penne, drained
07 -
½ cup thick whipping cream
08 -
1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes, crushed
→ Seasonings
09 -
2 bay leaves
10 -
A pinch of salt and black pepper, adjust to your liking
11 -
½ teaspoon red chili flakes, or sprinkle more as needed
→ Toppings
12 -
A handful of shredded parmesan for serving
13 -
1 cup mozzarella, grated
14 -
A few sprigs of parsley for decoration
# Steps:
01 -
Warm up olive oil in your largest pan on medium heat. Toss in the onion and bell pepper, stirring as they soften for a few minutes.
02 -
Sprinkle in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Let it all cook for around 60 seconds.
03 -
Mix in the crushed tomatoes and bay leaves. Cover the pot, leave it on medium-low, and simmer for 4-5 minutes.
04 -
Remove the bay leaves, then throw in the spinach, heavy cream, and pepper with some salt. Cover again, cook until the spinach softens, about 3 minutes.
05 -
Add the drained penne pasta to the sauce. Stir in parsley and mozzarella until combined. Turn off the heat.
06 -
Dish out while warm. Sprinkle with parmesan and garnish with parsley before serving.
# Notes:
01 -
To keep pasta firm, cook it until just al dente.
02 -
Use a deep pot or heavy-bottomed pan for easy mixing.
03 -
Cut your vegetables into similar sizes so they cook evenly.