Tortellini and Spinach Bake

-Sylvie-'s Note:

I've got this recipe of my sister-in-law. I just love the combination of pasta, spinach cheese and tomatoes. Served with crusty bread and a fresh salad (plus a few bottles of red wine), it's perfect if you have a few friends round for dinner and don't want anything too formal!

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 500 g fresh tortellini (filling of your choice, 1 lb)
• 4 -5 tomatoes, skinned and chopped
• 600 g frozen spinach (1 1/3 lb)
• 2 -3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 100 -150 g feta cheese, cut into chunks (4oz)
• 200 g grated cheese (7 oz)
• 500 ml sour cream (2cups)
• 250 ml single cream (1 cup)
• 2 -3 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
• 2 -3 teaspoons salt

Directions:

1. Cook the tortellini in salted water for about 3-4 minutes, drain and put in a big oven proof dish.
2. Add the tomatoes.
3. Defrost the spinach, squeeze out most of the excess water and add the garlic.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Add to the pasta and tomatoes, mix well.
6. Top with feta cheese.
7. In a bowl mix the soured cream and single cream.
8. Season with salt and pepper to taste (don't hold back).
9. Add the grated cheese and pour over the dish, make sure it mixes with the rest of the ingredients and doesn't just sit on top.
10. Preheat the oven (200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6) and bake for 20-30 minutes.

Reviews

[smellyvegetarian]

This was a really lovely, albeit slightly indulgent, treat! I used a 19 oz bag of tortellini, canned tomatoes, one 10 oz pack of spinach (more than enough IMHO), fresh mozzarella and grated parmesan for the "cheese", reduced fat sour cream, and milk for the single cream. Oh, and I realized at the last minute that I had purchased sundried tomato and basil flavored feta, and it was delicious in this! I stirred everything all together and baked it that way, and I think it worked out just fine. Thanks for posting! Made for Healthy Choices ABC tag.

[WildCook]

Delicious!!! This is a great assembly meal. I prepped everything ahead of time and when I got home from work, I simply poured the sauce over the pasta and baked. I made a few changes. I used two tomatoes instead of four, along with a small can of sliced mushrooms. Since husband doesn't like feta cheese, I sprinkled some parmesan instead. Finally, to save a few grams of fat, I used 1% milk rather than cream. This recipe is definitely going in the cookbook! Thank you for posting! Will be making this again.

[Mrs. Rum]

This was good!! I used a 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes, 8 oz of grated medium cheddar and 8 oz of grated mozzarella. After I poured the sauce over the tortellini/spinach/tomato mix I simply stirred the cheeses in and sprinkled a little on top. Baked 30 minutes at 400 F and it was great. The only change I might make going forward is to cut back on the spinach some; it was a lot of spinach. On the other hand my kids both ate it so..... :)