In our household we do love pasta! We also have a situation where I really like white sauce pasta and my husband very much likes tomato based pasta.
So I decided to come up with the perfect pasta dish to please us both and the children! Macaroni half and half one side red and one side white but spinach in both.
I was naughty, as I had a bit of both! actually quite alot…lol.
It really was a very comforting meal but macaroni cheese always has that effect.
Hope you enjoy D x
INGREDIENTS
For the tomato spinach sauce ~
250g crushed tomato passata
5 cubes frozen spinach (ice cube size)
3 cloves garlic crushed
½ tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt to taste
Pinch of sugar
For the white spinach sauce
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp butter
½ tbsp mild olive oil
Milk
4 cubes frozen spinach
Salt to taste
Pinch of black pepper
sprinkling of garlic granules (optional)
Handful of grated mature cheddar cheese
300-350g macaroni precooked
Cheddar cheese for topping
METHOD
• In a medium saucepan, heat the oil and add the garlic and passata together. Put in all the seasoning apart from the spinach
• Simmer on a low heat for 5 minutes. Gently add the spinach cubes and cook for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
• In a separate medium saucepan, heat up the oil and butter for the white sauce
• Throw in the flour and form into a roux. Cook on a low heat, stirring throughout for 2 minutes
• Pour in some milk approx 180ml-200ml , add the seasoning and continuously stir slowly. As the sauce starts to thicken add the cheese and frozen spinach, simmer for a further 10 minutes. If the sauce is too thick after this pour a little more milk and stir
• Now that both sauces are ready. Divide the macaroni amount into two. Put half into the tomato sauce and half into the white sauce. Combine well individually
• Use a deep small baking dish and place the tomato macaroni on one side and the white macaroni on the other
Sprinkle generously with cheese, bake in oven at 180°c/gas mark 4 for 10 minutes
• Then put under the grill to brown the cheese. Serve with a crisp fresh salad and some dressing
Great recipe – love the story and photos, too! Nice! Oh, my – the ooey-gooey hot, melted cheese is mouth-watering. I love that you made two dishes in one to appease and please all parties involved. 😉 Both so delicious, I think that the alfredo sauce and the marinara would actually taste quite decadent, creamy and bright mixed together in the recipe, as well. I have a baked a pasta dish that calls for the duo of sauces (along with sautéed mushrooms); its ‘s a crowd-pleaser. 🙂 We love Italian food, too. Thanks for sharing!
Yes combining the two sauces would be fantastic. I will check out your recipe! Yes the cheese was…yummmy! 🙂
🙂 HEHE. Yes, that cheese looked… just… YUM.
What a great idea! This looks tasty
Thank you! 🙂
Half and half is so yummy! It’s almost like a lasagne if you have both sides together 🙂
Thank you!
Aren’t baked pastas the best? This is a very good one and I like that you’ve added the spinach. It’s a great way to get kids to eat vegetables. 🙂
Yes they are! I love spinach and slowly my little ones are liking it to… all they saw was cheesy pasta 😉
Oh this looks just amazing! The cheese looks so melty and delicious!
Thank you! Me and cheese that’s a very dangerous combination! Can’t get enough 🙂
I see that I missed heeps of your tasty recipes so I must change that & make them all,…Yum Yum Yum! 😜
Aww thank you friend x
Mouth watering recipe 😀
Eye pleasing pictures 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much Palak! Welcome to Shivaay Delights 🙂