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Diced Mediterranean Vegetables incuding aubergine, courgette, peppers, and onions BAked with Rigatoni pasta Bake

Mediterranean Vegetable and Rigatoni Bake

This Creamy Mediterranean vegetable and rigatoni pasta bake hits all your five-a-day while avoiding meat. Yet, it still brings comfort.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: British, Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 40 ml Olive Oil
  • 1 Large White Onion Diced
  • 2 Carrots Diced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves Crushed
  • 3 Sticks of Celery Diced
  • 1 Aubergine Diced
  • 2 Courgettes Diced
  • ! Red Pepper Diced
  • 2 Tbsp Dried Oregano
  • 1 Tbsp of Tomato Puree
  • 500 g Tomato Passata
  • 150 ml Veg Stock
  • 50 ml Double Cream
  • Salt / Pepper to tatse
  • 500 g Rigatoni Pasta
  • 100 g Buffalo Mozzarella
  • 2 Tbsp Parmesan Grated
  • 2 Tbsp Panko Breadcrumbs

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 200C or 180C Fan 0r 400F or Gas 6
  2. In a large Casserole pot, heat the olive oil over a medium heat and soften the onions and carrots with a pinch if salt.
  3. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute, then add the remaining vegetables. Gently soften for 8-10 minutes.
  4. Stir in the tomato paste and half the Oregano. Cook for 2 minutes before adding the passata and vegetable stock.
  5. Cook the sauce for 10 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and the flavours to infuse.
  6. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil, and cook the rigatoni for 6-7 minutes until the pasta has softened but not cooked.
  7. In a small bowl combine the parmesan, remaining oregano, and breadcrumbs.
  8. Drain the pasta and mix through the sauce. Transfer the rigatoni to a large enough ovenproof dish.
  9. Top with shredded mozzarella and fill in any gaps with the parmesan breadcrumbs.
  10. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the Pasta is cooked, the cheese is golden brown and bubbling.