Meat 
30 Min
pretty easy 
4 People
Sicilian pasta bake with bocconcini - Quick Italian style pasta bake, topped with fresh thyme and melted bocconcini. Served with an exciting side salad featuring seasonal orange, healthy sprouts and cos lettuce.
Gluten friendly option is gluten free pasta.
Gluten friendly option is gluten free pasta.
1. Set oven to 220°C. Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Add pasta and cook according to packet instructions, or until al dente.
2. Heat a frypan with 1 tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Chop onion and slice bacon (see notes), add to the pan as you go. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until starting to colour. Strip and add leaves from 1/4 packet of thyme and add crushed garlic.
3. Grate (or dice) carrots and zucchini, add to the pan as you go and cook for further 5 minutes, or until softened. Add 2 tsp oregano, 1 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar and tomato sugo. Combine well.
4. Drain pasta, toss into sauce. Season well with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to an ovenproof dish, scatter with remaining thyme leaves and bocconcini (poke down into bake). Bake in top part of the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
5. Wash and tear lettuce, slice orange and halve cherry tomatoes. Arrange on a salad platter with sprouts and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste (optional).
6. Serve pasta bake at the table with a side of salad.
Tip! Use scissors instead of a knife to slice bacon. Pasta can be served just tossed with sauce (no baking required), add some water to sauce if required.
2. Heat a frypan with 1 tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Chop onion and slice bacon (see notes), add to the pan as you go. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until starting to colour. Strip and add leaves from 1/4 packet of thyme and add crushed garlic.
3. Grate (or dice) carrots and zucchini, add to the pan as you go and cook for further 5 minutes, or until softened. Add 2 tsp oregano, 1 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar and tomato sugo. Combine well.
4. Drain pasta, toss into sauce. Season well with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to an ovenproof dish, scatter with remaining thyme leaves and bocconcini (poke down into bake). Bake in top part of the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
5. Wash and tear lettuce, slice orange and halve cherry tomatoes. Arrange on a salad platter with sprouts and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste (optional).
6. Serve pasta bake at the table with a side of salad.
Tip! Use scissors instead of a knife to slice bacon. Pasta can be served just tossed with sauce (no baking required), add some water to sauce if required.
wholemeal short pasta 500g
red onion 1
bacon 1 packet
thyme 1/2 packet
garlic 1 clove
carrots 2
zucchini 1
dried oregano 2tbsp
balsamic vinegar 1 1/2 tbsp
tomato sugo 1 jar
baby bocconcini 1 tub
baby cos lettuce 1
orange 1
cherry tomatoes 1 punnet
Healthy trio sprouts 1/3 punnet
From your pantry: Oil, salt & pepper
red onion 1
bacon 1 packet
thyme 1/2 packet
garlic 1 clove
carrots 2
zucchini 1
dried oregano 2tbsp
balsamic vinegar 1 1/2 tbsp
tomato sugo 1 jar
baby bocconcini 1 tub
baby cos lettuce 1
orange 1
cherry tomatoes 1 punnet
Healthy trio sprouts 1/3 punnet
From your pantry: Oil, salt & pepper
