Lighter lemony pasta and spinach bake

Robertmiken 8:41 PM food & diet, recipes,

Preparation time

less than 30 mins

Cooking time

30 mins to 1 hour

Serves

Serves 4

Dietary

Put together healthy veg with a yummy mustard and cheese sauce and you've got a great pasta bake.

Each serving provides 459 kcal, 24g protein, 63g carbohydrate (of which 6.5g sugars), 11g fat (of which 5.5g saturates), 6g fibre and 0.6g salt.

Ingredients

300g/10½oz dried macaroni
200g/7oz broccoli, cut into small florets
100g/3½oz baby spinach, any thicker stems removed
2 tsp olive oil
2 spring onions, outer leaves removed, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
1 tbsp plain flour
300ml/10fl oz skimmed milk
2 bay leaves
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
1 unwaxed lemon, finely grated zest only
100g/3½oz Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), finely grated
salt and freshly ground black pepper
mixed salad leaves dressed with a squeeze of lemon juice and 1 tsp olive oil, to serve

Method

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6
Cook the macaroni in boiling water for 6 minutes. Add the broccoli and cook for another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the spinach and leave to stand with the lid on for 2 minutes. Drain well and set aside
Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan. Fry the spring onions for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and fry for another 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring all the time, for 1-2 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk, add the bay leaves and season with salt and pepper. Continue simmering for 2-3 minutes, until thickened. Remove the bay leaves.
Stir in the mustard, lemon zest and three quarters of the Parmesan, then season well.
Tip the pasta and broccoli into a shallow baking dish. Pour over the sauce and mix well. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Serve with the dressed salad leaves.