Pasta Shells With Lentils And Spinach Food

SPINACH-RICOTTA STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes; season with salt. (You should have about 4 heaping cups of sauce.)
• Make the stuffed shells: Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook as the label directs for baking, about 9 minutes. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Spread out on a baking sheet.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a large plate lined with a kitchen towel. Squeeze to remove any excess liquid, then finely chop.
• Put the spinach in a large bowl and add the ricotta, mozzarella, parsley, Parmesan, lemon zest, beaten egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir until combined.
• To assemble, spread about half of the sauce in the bottom of a 10-by-14-inch baking dish. Evenly fill the shells with the spinach-ricotta mixture using a spoon, or pipe it in using a pastry bag. Arrange the shells side by side, open-side up, in the baking dish on top of the sauce, then top with the remaining sauce.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake until heated through and the sauce is simmering around the edges, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until any shells or cheese poking through the sauce are lightly browned in spots, about 10 more minutes. Let sit 10 minutes. Top with more Parmesan and red pepper flakes.

PASTA SHELLS WITH LENTILS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook lentils, carrot, and celery leaves in 1 quart water for 15-20 minutes or until lentils are almost tender. Drain the lentils, and reserve the cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in large skillet. Add onions and thyme, and sautee for 10-12 minutes.
• Add the lentils to the skillet along with 1 cup of the reserved broth. Squeeze excess moisture from the spinach before adding to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat while pasta cooks.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and toss with lentil sauce. Add more lentil broth if too dry. Add parsley and serve with grated Parmesan (or nutritional yeast) if desired.

PASTA WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and saute' for 5 minutes.
• Add garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves and stir for a minute (If you use canned tomatoes or only tomato paste rather than fresh tomatoes, add them along with the ingredients listed below).
• Add lentils, cumin, tomato paste, broth, and pepper.
• Increase heat and bring to simmer. Place lid on and turn the heat down to medium-low. Simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until lentils are soft.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your liking (see notes).*
• Add pasta, cook gently over medium heat until al dente. Stir frequently!
• If the stew seems too thick, gradually add a touch of water or broth and thin to desired consistency (note: the longer it sits on the stove, the thicker it will get). Taste, you might want to adjust again the seasoning before serving.
• Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and grated parmesan cheese if you don't keep it vegan. Also, garnish with chili flakes and chopped parsley for extra flavor if you like. Enjoy!

SPINACH-AND-GARLIC LENTILS

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, tomato, 2 cloves of garlic, ginger, serrano chile, turmeric and 6 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a high simmer and cook, occasionally whisking vigorously, until the lentils are tender and begin to fall apart and the mixture is like a thin porridge, 15 to 18 minutes. Add the spinach to the pan in batches and stir until wilted. Add the lemon juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Remove from the heat.
• Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining clove of garlic and the cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Swirl until the garlic and is golden and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Pour the lentils into a large serving bowl and drizzle with the garlic butter. Serve hot.

WHOLE-WHEAT PASTA WITH LENTILS, SPINACH, AND LEEKS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine lentils, 1 garlic clove, and the bay leaf. Add enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, and discard garlic clove and bay leaf; set the lentils aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta; cook until al dente according to package instructions, about 7 minutes. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Place pasta in a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, mince remaining garlic clove. In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic, leeks, and thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are soft but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add cooked lentils and salt; season with pepper.
• Add spinach and reserved cooking liquid to pan; toss to wilt spinach, about 2 minutes. Pour mixture over pasta, tossing to combine. Serve immediately.

LENTILS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Saute onion for 10 minutes or so, until it begins to turn golden. Add minced garlic and saute for another minute or so.
• Add lentils and water to the saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover, lower heat, and simmer about 35 minutes, until lentils are soft ( this may take less time, depending on your water and the lentils).
• Meanwhile cook the spinach in microwave according to package directions. Add spinach, salt and cumin to the saucepan. Cover and simmer until all is heated, about ten minutes. Grind in plenty of pepper and press in extra garlic to taste.

WHOLE-WHEAT PASTA WITH LENTILS, SPINACH, AND LEEKS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine lentils, 1 garlic clove, and the bay leaf. Add enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain lentils, and discard garlic clove and bay leaf.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup cooking liquid; drain pasta, and place in a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, mince remaining garlic clove. In a large sauté pan, heat oil over medium. Add minced garlic, leeks, and thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are soft but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add cooked lentils and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; season with pepper.
• Add spinach and reserved pasta cooking liquid to pan; cook, tossing to wilt spinach, about 2 minutes. Pour mixture over pasta, and toss to combine. Serve immediately, drizzled with olive oil, if desired.
• (Per Serving)
• Calories: 579
• Saturated Fat: .7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4.1g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Carbohydrates: 106g
• Protein: 24.6g
• Sodium: 372mg
• Fiber: 19g