Pasta – zucchini – minced meat – casserole

Ingredients for 6 servings:

• 500 g pasta, variety of your choice
• 500 g minced meat, half and half
• 500 g zucchini, cut into 1 cm cubes
• 1 m.-sized onion(s)
• 1 can of tomatoes, pureed
• 200 g herb cream cheese
• 250 g cheese, for gratinating
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove(s) garlic
• salt and pepper

Instructions

Working time approx. 20 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 30 minutes; Total time approx. 50 minutes

Brown the minced meat with the onions in 2 tablespoons of olive oil; remove from the pan. Brown the zucchini cubes with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package instructions, minus 1 minute. Add the minced meat, onions, passata, and about 100 ml of pasta water or beef broth to the vegetables. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the herb cream cheese, bring to a boil, and continue to simmer gently. Grease a casserole dish with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and alternate layers of pasta and sauce. Cover with the cheese and bake in the oven to taste. I recommend using top heat or a grill for this, as everything is already cooked through. This casserole is suitable for children (and toddlers), very versatile, and easy to prepare. Variations: Use other vegetables (spinach, eggplant, carrots, broccoli, chard, etc.) or other meat (turkey strips, minced lamb, etc.).