1 sweet bell pepper, any color but I used yellow, diced
1 yellow onion, diced
4 scallions, sliced
Salt and pepper
2-4 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups fresh spinach, cooked, squeezed dry, and chopped
2 cups marinara sauce, divided
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to package directions in heavily salted water, but reduce cooking time by 2 minutes. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and add the pepper, onion, and scallions. Season with salt and pepper and cook until slightly softened, about 4 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
Combine the cooked vegetables with the chopped spinach in a large bowl. Drain the pasta and add to the bowl, along with 1 cup of the marinara sauce and stir to combine. Fold in the ricotta cheese and pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
Drizzle the remaining marinara on top of the pasta and smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the top, then cover with a greased sheet of foil (so it doesn't stick to the cheese) and bake for 45 minutes at 374 degrees.
Serve smaller portions with meatballs or larger portions as a vegetarian entree.
Recipe by Cooking With MicheleĀ® at https://cookingwithmichele.com/2020/01/better-baked-ziti/