Vegetarian Mexican Pasta Bake Food

MEXICAN PASTA CASSEROLE (VEGAN & FAMILY FRIENDLY)

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 F and lightly grease a 13x9" casserole dish. To make the black bean layer, combine the black beans, chipotle, maple, chili, cumin, and stock in a food processor and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• In a bowl, mix together the passata, minced chipotle, chili, cumin, salt and pepper, to taste. Adjust depending on how spicy you like it.
• Cook the pasta al dente and set aside.
• Add 3/4 of the spicy tomato sauce to the pot along with the rigatoni, corn, can of black beans (non pureed), and spinach and toss to coat.
• Spread 1/2 of the remaining sauce onto the bottom of the pan. Add half of the pasta, then the pureed black beans, the sour cream, and the remaining pasta. Top with the last little bit of sauce, and finish with the shredded cheese.
• Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Top with avocado, jalapenos, green onions, and tomatoes and enjoy.

VEGETARIAN MEXICAN PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter six 12-1 6 ounce individual casserole dishes (or one 3 quart baking dish); set aside.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to pan.
• In a large saucepan, cook onion and sweet pepper in butter over medium heat about 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour, cilantro and cumin. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until the mixture and thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low. Stir in Colby cheese and 1 cup of the Monterey Jack cheese; stir until melted.
• Pour mixture over drained pasta; stir to combine.
• Layer half the pasta mixture, all of the salsa and the remaining pasta mixture in the prepared casserole(s). Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of Monterey Jack cheese and olives. Sprinkle lightly with chili powder on top.
• Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes or until bubbly around the edges and heated through (if useing a large casserole, bake in 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes). Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

MEXICAN PASTA VEGETABLE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Cook rotini as directed on package.
• Combine rotini, salsa, 1 c cheese, cottage cheese, beans, and corn.
• Spoon into a sprayed 13 x 9 baking pan.
• Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until heated thoroughly.
• Sprinkle with cilantro (optional) before serving.

MEXICAN PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Grease 4-quart casserole dish.
• Cook beef in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain.
• Cook rigatoni pasta according to package directions; drain and return pasta to the pot.
• Stir in the ground beef, corn, salsa and beans.
• Spoon half of the pasta mixture into casserole dish and sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the cheese.
• Spoon remaining pasta mixture into the casserole dish and place tomato slices on top; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Cover and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

MEXICAN PASTA AND BLACK BEANS (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente; drain and set aside.
• In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat; add in onions, red or green bell pepper and jalapeno pepper; saute for about 3-4 minutes.
• Add in garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
• Add in corn, diced tomatoes (with juice) salsa, olives and taco seasoning; simmer uncovered for about 30-35 minutes (you can simmer longer if desired) stirring occasionally.
• Add in cream cheese, stir until heat through and combined.
• Add in black beans and cooked pasta, stir until combined and heated through.
• Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Top with grated cheddar cheese if desired.

FAJITA-STYLE PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large shallow casserole or frying pan. Add the chicken and fry for 5 mins over a medium heat until golden all over. Remove and set aside on a plate.
• Put the onion and peppers in the same pan and fry over a medium heat for 8-10 mins. Add the garlic, dried herbs and spices and cook for 1 min. Add the tomato purée and cook for 2 mins. Return the chicken to the pan and pour in the cream, stirring to combine. Season to taste.
• Cook the pasta following pack instructions, then drain and reserve 150ml of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the pan with 50ml of the water and stir everything together over the heat. Add a little more water to loosen if needed. Season to taste and stir through the parsley. Divide between six bowls and top with a little cheese and extra chopped parsley, if you like. This can be packed into a lunchbox and eaten cold, too.