Name: Ham and spinach ricotta pasta bake
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 30 gram butter; 1 medium onion, diced; 1 clove garlic, finely diced; 300 gram ham, diced; 60 gram baby spinach leaves; 250 gram pasta spirals or similar; 2 eggs; 250 gram ricotta; 1 cup cream; 1 cup grated tasty cheese; sea salt and cracked pepper; green salad, to serve

Ham and spinach ricotta pasta bake

This quick and tasty pasta bake recipe is perfect when you need a comforting family meal in a snap. Fill with ham, spinach and creamy ricotta and serve alongside a fresh green salad

Recipe by : Jo Wilcox

Photography by : Melanie Jenkins

This recipe first appeared in Food magazine.

Follow Food on Facebook, Instagram and sign up to their e-newsletter.

Ingredients

30 gram butter

1 medium onion, diced

1 clove garlic, finely diced

300 gram ham, diced

60 gram baby spinach leaves

250 gram pasta spirals or similar

2 eggs

250 gram ricotta

1 cup cream

1 cup grated tasty cheese

sea salt and cracked pepper

green salad, to serve

Method

1.Preheat oven to 180°C. Heat butter in a large frying pan over medium heat.

2.Sauté the onion, garlic and ham for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and just starting to colour. Add the spinach leaves and allow to wilt for 1 minute; transfer to a large bowl.

3.Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salted water for about 8-10 minutes or until just al dente, drain and toss with the ham and onion mixture.

4.Whisk the eggs, ricotta and cream together until smooth then stir in half the cheese and season well.

5.Pour the ricotta mixture into the pasta and toss to combine, then transfer the mix to an oven-proof serving dish. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Serve with a simple green salad.

Avoid overcooking your pasta – ensure it’s al dente, as it will still have cooking time when it’s baked. You can use diced chicken breast instead of ham, if preferred – For a lower calorie version, omit the cream and use milk instead. PER SERVE (6) Energy 481kcal, 2433kj • Protein 21.7g • Total Fat 43g • Saturated Fat 22.5g • Carbohydrate 24.8g • Fibre 2.2g • Sodium 699mg

Note

Woman's Weekly Food

From classic Kiwi favourites, quick weeknight dinners and elevated meals for special occasions, our recipes are local and delicious and thoroughly tested so you know you can trust them to work. Discover tips and tricks to enhance your cooking skills, learn about seasonal ingredients, and stay up-to-date with the latest food trends. We're more than just recipes; we're your trusted kitchen companion.

Ingredients

Method

Related stories

Italian sausage, olive and ricotta pasta bake

Native ad body.

Chicken and risoni pasta bake

Subscribe and save up to 38%