Description
Mediterranean chickpea pasta bake brings Italian and Greek flavors together in one comforting casserole. Creamy chickpeas, fresh herbs, and tangy feta cheese meld perfectly, offering you a delightful Mediterranean-inspired meal that satisfies both hunger and culinary curiosity.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked chickpeas
- 4 cups uncooked rotini, fusilli, or penne
- 750 mL pasta sauce
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 large bunch kale or spinach
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- ¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives, finely chopped
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, creating a fragrant cooking environment.
- Introduce diced onions and minced garlic, seasoning with a gentle salt sprinkle. Allow vegetables to soften and become translucent, stirring intermittently for approximately 5 minutes.
- Incorporate vibrant red bell peppers, continuing to cook until they develop a slight tenderness, roughly 3 minutes.
- Fold in sun-dried tomatoes, sliced olives, additional seasoning, aromatic herbs like oregano and basil, plus a hint of red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
- Gently add fresh spinach or kale, stirring until greens transform into a bright, wilted state, releasing their rich nutrients.
- Pour chickpeas and prepared pasta sauce into the vegetable mixture, creating a robust and flavorful base.
- Elevate heat to trigger a gentle simmer, then reduce to a low setting. Cover and allow flavors to meld, stirring occasionally.
- Preheat oven to 350°F, preparing a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a light olive oil coating.
- Cook rotini pasta according to package instructions, ensuring al dente texture. Drain thoroughly and return to original pot.
- Combine pasta with prepared sauce, gently mixing to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Transfer the complete mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Generously sprinkle grated mozzarella across the top, creating a golden, melting cheese blanket.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until cheese transforms into a bubbly, golden-brown landscape.
- Remove from oven and allow brief cooling period before serving to let flavors settle and stabilize.
- Plate and savor the Mediterranean-inspired culinary creation.
Notes
- Packed with protein-rich chickpeas, colorful vegetables, and melted mozzarella, this dish transforms simple ingredients into a crowd-pleasing meal.
- Customize the heat level by adjusting red pepper flakes or swap spinach for your favorite greens to make this recipe truly your own.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 74 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg