Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables

Nothing says comfort food like a bowl of pasta as big as your head. But sometimes you want comfort along side with a dash of health. Enter my baked penne with roasted vegetables. This is the perfect meal for a Sunday night. The combination of cheese, pasta, and delicious roasted vegetables give this flavor packed, comforting dish everything you need for a cozy night in.

Serves 4 – 6 but this is the perfect recipe for leftovers!

Suggested Wine Pairing:

I like this with a Chianti, but your could choose another red wine with high acidity like a Zinfandel.

Ingredients:

18 ounces of penne or ziti

1 – 14 ounce can of chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup of cream

1 small red onion, chopped

2 small zucchinis, chopped

8 ounces of mushrooms, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, shredded

1/4 cup of basil

1/4 cup of parsley

1 teaspoon of oregano

6 slices of provolone cheese, or 2 cups shredded

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Chop the onion, zucchini, mushrooms, and yellow pepper into routinely sized chunks, about 2 inches wide, so they cook evenly. Combine the vegetables with garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine and pour into a baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.

1. While the vegetables roast, combine the canned tomatoes in their juice with cream, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and the oregano.
2. Cook the penne for six minutes in salted boiling the water and drain. The pasta will finish cooking in the oven.
3. Remove the vegetable from the oven and in a large mixing bowl, combine the vegetables with the pasta and tomato/cream mixture. Stir in the basil.

1. Pour the mixture back into the baking dish and spread evenly. Top the pasta with the provolone cheese and back for another 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the pasta edges are just slightly brown.
2. Top with remaining parsley and wash it down with some wine.

If you like my baked penne, be sure to try my penne alla vodka or feta pasta bake, loaded with roasted veggies!