Meatless Monday - Layered Greek Pasta Bake

It's a busy, busy week here, so I am digging into the archives for today's Meatless Monday post.  We had this Layered Pasta Bake again recently, and I was reminded how good it is.  Despite the inclusion of zucchini and feta cheese, my kids are wild about this dish! 


I came across a cookbook by Linda McCartney a few months ago at our local library - Linda McCartney's World of Vegetarian Cooking. For a cookbook with such a cheesy name, it's actually got quite a few good recipes in it, including this one.  In fact, I liked the book so much that I now own it.  

My kids do their best to pick around the zucchini, but they still love this dish - and even manage to get some of the zucchini into their bodies.  I've considered pureeing the sauteed zucchini and hiding it in the sauce, but haven't gone to that effort so far.




Layered Pasta Bake

14 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup tomato puree
1 cup water
1 tsp dried thyme
2 cloves garlic, minced
10 sun-dried tomatoes, crushed (I used oil packed sun-dried tomatoes)
8 oz crumbled feta
3 cups dried pasta (penne or fusilli or rigatoni)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium zucchini, sliced
1/2 cup cheddar, grated
freshly chopped basil to garnish

In a medium saucepan, simmer the tomatoes, tomato puree, and water with the thyme, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. When the sauce has reduced and thickened a little (about 8-10 min), add the feta. Meanwhile, cook the pasta. Drain, and mix thoroughly with the tomato sauce.

Saute the onion and zucchini for about 5 min. (I think that I sauteed a little longer. My onions and zucchini were just starting to brown a bit.)

Spread half of the pasta mixture in a 13x9 baking dish and layer the zucchini mixture on top. Cover with the rest of the pasta mixture. Top with cheese and bake at 350 F for 20 min. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.

Now for a request.  A reader and friend is looking for a tasty breakfast "cookie."  Do you have one to share?  I must admit, I am not having a lot of luck with this challenge!  The couple I've tried so far have been heavy and not very appealing to any of us!