Its an rainy day during Sydney’s Winter that I decide that the Spaghetti Pie recipe will get an look in. There’s nothing better than being inside when its raining and it becomes a little more gratifying when there’s something delicious smelling in the oven.
Being particularly time poor that day, I short cut the meatballs by using Chevups skinless sausages which are low in fat and high in meat. I added some fresh breadcrumbs to them to fluffify and lighten them, some milk to bind and stirred in the broccoli and oddly enough, we have a new meatball favourite.
I also couldn’t get by without using my favorites tomato pasta bake sauce, Remano Creamy tomato and basil from shock horror, of all places, Aldi. Its creamy and very tomatoey and we make special trips to Aldi to stock up our cupboards with it. My husband and I are those oddball people that actually love cottage cheese. We could eat it by the tubful so I need no convincing to use it. In fact the texture, once cooked, is like using mince. And since I’m not a fan of mozzarella, I used regular tasty cheese, nothing fancy there. It wasn’t as crispy as the recipe suggests that it would be - perhaps the addition of the pasta sauce instead of regular tomato sauce did it but it was still very good and a favoured alternative to spaghetti and meatballs.
(Rainy Day) Spaghetti Pie from Deceptively Delicious
This is a perfect recipe for that leftover pasta you’ve got in the fridge from last night’s dinner
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 3 ozs/90g whole wheat spaghetti or angel hair pasta (or 1 cup cooked leftover pasta) I used fettucine
- 1/2 pound/250g lean ground turkey or sirloin (I used 200g chevups sausages and 50g fresh breadcrumbs)
- 1/2 cup broccoli puree
- 1 large egg white
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 cups bottled tomato sauce
- 1 cup lowfat cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup carrot puree
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/4 t pepper
- 1 cup shredded part skim mozzarella (I used regular tasty)
1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Coat a 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain in a colander (Skip this step if you have leftover pasta)
3. In a small bow, mix the ground turkey or sirloin with the broccoli puree, egg white, parmesan and garlic. Form the mixture into 1/2 inch balls
4. In a large bowl, stir the cooked pasta, tomato sauce, cottage cheese, carrot puree,, and salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture into the pie plate and smooth the top. Scatter meatballs on top and sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake, uncovered until the centre is firm and the cheese is bubble, 25 - 30 minutes.
Prep: 20 mins Total: 45 mins serves 8-10
By Jessica Seinfeld from Deceptively Delicious
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10 Comments | Add your own
Sounds quick easy and delicious!
Wow this looks delicious, like a cross between lasagne and meatballs. It looks like perfect comfort food for autumn, I must try it.
I’ve thought about picking this book up before, but have never brought myself to glance through it only because I don’t subscribe to the theory of hiding ingredients.
That said, I’m glad you gave us a sneak peek into this book. I still don’t believe in hiding ingredients, but if adding ingredients ultimately make a common dish healthier or better tasting, I’m all for it!
That dish looks absolutely scrumptious! Comfort food at it’s best!
Cheers,
Rosa
Looks like some cheesy goodness there!
I like your word “fluffify” ..hehe…
And thanks for the heads-up on the Remano creamy tomato and basil sauce. I’m always afraid that basil in store-bought sauces will taste like handfuls of dried basil have gone into it. I prefer a fresh basil taste.
Anyway, I’m willing to try the sauce.. I’m yet to try those Aldi sundried tomatoes.. but next time I want some, I will!
yep, that’s an awesome dish to break out on a rainy, dreary day. i suppose i’ll accept jessica seinfeld’s sneakiness, but only because i love jerry so much.
Hi popeye-Thankyou so much!
Hi Helen-You are right indeed! The soft meatballs are pasta are very comforting indeed
Hi Sandie-Yes I don’t think it’s a great idea although she does encourage you to put actual vegetables on the plate too. I don’t have kids though (nor a husband that dislikes vegetables
) so I use this cookbook to make regular dishes even healthier by adding vegetables. Which it definitely works for! 
Hi Rosa-Thanks so much! Yes there’s definitely the need for comfort when it’s raining outside
Hi Maria-Oops there I go making up words again
Oh the Remano sauce is definitely not too basil-ey. Actually if you like a real basil-ey sauce this might not be strong enough. So it’s safe for you I think
Hi grace-Haha yes the smell in the oven helps erase the rain outside
Yep BIG Seinfeld show lover here too. I can watch each episode 20 times and still find it insanely funny.
i went to audi just to buy that pasta bake and made a similar dish that u made here, i just made my own meatballs (ikea swedish ones) added some onions and then put some fresh chopped tomatoes in the pasta, damn it was yum!! thanks for sharing
oops i did mean aldi
Hi Isla-Cool, I like the Ikea swedish meatballs! They’re useful to have in the freezer (and I love the meatball sauce too). You’re more than welcome!
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