Recipe

We love pizza, but we love the unhealthy kind--pepperoni and cheese, and lots of both. In an attempt to make a pasta dish like our favorite pizza, only healthier, I developed the following recipe. It fills up a 9x13 pan, and is a great leftover. However, it is time consuming, so you might want to make it on the weekend.


Pizza Penne

8 ounces penne pasta, preferably whole grain
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon light olive oil
1 medium onion, small dice
1/2 bell pepper, any color, small dice
8 ounces mushrooms, chopped (my husband doesn't like them, so I almost mince them)
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground beef
3 cups marinara sauce, homemade or jarred
1 small can chopped black olives
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups low-fat, small curd cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
2 eggs
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped small
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, divided
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 t. Italian seasoning or 1 tablespoon mixed fresh herbs (i.e. basil, parsley, and oregano)
Pepperoni slices, optional

Cook pasta in boiling, salted water for 7 minutes, should be slightly undercooked, and then drain. Saute the onion for 4 minutes, and then add the bell pepper, and mushrooms. Cook 6 minutes longer or until all the liquid has evaporated, and the vegetables start to brown. Add the meat and cook while breaking it up with a fork. Add the marinara, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and olives. Simmer while preparing the cheese.

Mix the cottage or ricotta cheese with the mozzarella, spinach, eggs, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and a fourth cup of Parmesan. Mix the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan with the herbs. Layer the pasta, meat sauce, and cottage cheese mixture in the dish in that order, topping with the Parmesan mixture and finally the pepperoni slices. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until bubbly. I broil the casserole for a couple of minutes at the end to get the pepperoni crispy, but that is your option.


This is not low-fat, but serve it with a side salad filled with great fresh veggies, and topped with an olive oil vinaigrette, and you have a well balanced meal.

Here's to healthy, happy eating!