RECIPE

Cheesy Mince & Mac with Spinach

Name: Cheesy Mince & Mac with Spinach
Cook time: 65 mins
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 30ml (2 Tbsp) oil; 1 large onion, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, crushed; 1 x 50g sachet tomato paste; 750g beef mince; 1 x 210g tin chopped tomatoes; 1 x 37g Royco® Bolognaise Dry Cook-In Sauce; 500ml (2 cups) water or stock; 15ml (1 Tbsp) dried mixed herbs; salt and black pepper, to taste; 500g uncooked macaroni or penne; 200g baby spinach leaves; 300g mozzarella or cheddar, thinly sliced or grated

Cooking time

65 mins

Preparation time

15 mins

Serves

Who can resist pasta in a rich Royco bolognaise sauce, topped with melty cheese? We’ve featured spinach in this family bake for an iron-rich pop of green, but feel free to get creative: try adding mushrooms, baby marrows, peas or even crispy bacon bits.

30ml (2 Tbsp) oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 x 50g sachet tomato paste
750g beef mince
1 x 210g tin chopped tomatoes
1 x 37g Royco® Bolognaise Dry Cook-In Sauce
500ml (2 cups) water or stock
15ml (1 Tbsp) dried mixed herbs
salt and black pepper, to taste
500g uncooked macaroni or penne
200g baby spinach leaves
300g mozzarella or cheddar, thinly sliced or grated

Products used

Bolognaise Dry Cook-In Sauce

View Product

Vegetarian

For a hearty vegetarian version of this dish, replace the beef with brown lentils or soya mince.

Family Friendly

If your kids won’t eat spinach, leave it out, or use frozen peas instead.

Cook’s tips:

The pasta will continue to absorb liquid while the dish bakes, so make sure that sauce is fairly wet. If it looks a little dry, sprinkle a few tablespoons of water over the dish before you top it with cheese.

You can make this dish well in advance and keep it in the fridge. Let it come to room temperature before you bake it.

1.
Heat the oil in a pot and fry the onions over a medium heat until soft and golden (about 5 minutes).
2.
Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 more minute.
3.
Turn the heat up and add the mince, breaking up any clumps with a fork. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, or until lightly browned.
4.
Tip the tinned tomatoes into the pot. Sprinkle the Royco® Bolognaise Dry Cook-In Sauce powder all over the top, then immediately pour in the water (or stock) and stir very well.
5.
Add the mixed herbs and season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and cook, uncovered, over a medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring now and then.
6.
In the meantime, heat your oven 180 °C and bring plenty of salted water to the boil in a large pot. Add the pasta and cook for the time specified on the packet.
7
When the pasta is almost done, add the baby spinach leaves to the sauce. Cook gently for a further 2 minutes, or until the leaves have wilted but are still bright green. Take the pot off the heat.
8
Drain the pasta in a colander and return it to the pot you boiled it in. Pour in the sauce and gently stir everything together.
9
Tip the mixture into a greased ovenproof dish. Top with the cheese and bake at 180 °C for about 25 minutes, or until the pasta is heated through and the cheese is bubbling.
10
Serve piping hot with a crisp green salad.

Recipe Tags

20 mins

View Recipe

Cheesy Mince & Mac with Spinach

Ingredients

Vegetarian

Family Friendly

Cook’s tips:

Method

Recipe Tags

Related Recipes