SuperSimple Recipes

One-Pan Pasta Dinner

From the recipe box of travel writer Carole Terwilliger Meyers.

I love that this dinner recipe uses only one pan. Using whole-grain pasta makes it particularly healthy, though you can of course substitute in regular pasta. And though I prefer this meatless version, you can add in about 1/2-pound of ground beef after the onion is sautéed and cook for about 5 minutes.

1 Tbl. olive oil
1 onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
          Saute about 3 minutes in medium frying pan.

14.5 oz. can/1½ cups crushed tomatoes
1¼ cup chicken stock
8 ounces uncooked whole-grain penne pasta
pepper to taste
          Add and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 12 minutes or until pasta is done.

5 oz./1 cup packed fresh baby spinach
          Add and stir to mix.

4 oz./1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
          Sprinkle over top. Place pan under broiler for 2 minutes, or until cheese melts and begins to brown.

Serves 4.

(www.berkeleyandbeyond2.com; copyright Carole Terwilliger Meyers)