Fettuccine with baby eggplant, zucchini in diced tomato sauce

I just love pasta. I could have it every day. As I was shopping through the grocery store the other day, I thought I'd buy some fettuccine and come up with a recipe to use it. I got tired of the same spaghetti and meat sauce dish. I know I have experimented with Shrimp and Artichoke Hearts with Gluten Free Pasta, Pasta with chicken sausage and butternut squash, or my Eggplant and Penne with Bechamel Sauce - Greek Style, but I needed something different and something quick. I already had the baby eggplant and the zucchini in my fridge, so I came back from the grocery store and since it was time for dinner, I began preparing this dish. It was easy, fast, and within an hour I had dinner on the table. My husband and I loved it. For some reason the fettuccine gave it a different texture/flavor if you will, than the same ordinary spaghetti. So go ahead make it for yourselves. You will enjoy every bit of it. (PS--this is also a nice dish for Lent).

Ingredients (Makes 4 servings – appr. 12oz ea)
8 oz. Fettuccine Noodles
4 oz. baby eggplant
8 oz. zucchini
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
2 tbsp. tomato sauce
14 1/2 oz. diced tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Directions
Cook the fettuccine according to the package directions.

Wash and dice the eggplant and the zucchini (please note that the weight is with the vegetables whole not diced). Dice the onion, chop the garlic and the parsley. Set aside.

In a large saute pan, saute the diced onion and garlic. Add the diced vegetables, the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, the water and the chopped parsley. Add the salt and pepper. Lower the heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes till the vegetables are tender but not mushy (they will also cook more when you add the fettuccine noodles. When the pasta is ready drain it and add the pasta to the vegetable sauce. Toss well, sprinkle with pecorino romano cheese and serve. An easy dish that only takes 45 minutes to make. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 11.027 oz (312.6g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 190
Calories from Fat 71
Total Fat 7.9g
Saturated Fat 1.1g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 348mg
Potassium 550mg
Total Carbohydrates 26.9g
Dietary Fiber 3.6g
Sugars 5.5g
Protein 5.2g

Vegetarian Lasagna with white sauce or Bechamel sauce

This is a nice vegetarian dish that you can make even during Lent.  You can substitute the lasagna noodles with gluten free lasagna noodles.  You can also omit the mushrooms.  My daughter doesn't like mushrooms, so if I make this dish when she is coming over for dinner, I will omit the mushrooms altogether.  Enjoy!

Ingredients (Makes 12 servings appr. 8.5 oz each serving)

8 oz. lasagna noodles

3 tbs. olive oil

1 cup diced onions

1 tbs. chopped garlic

1 cup diced carrots

8 oz. mushrooms

12 oz. frozen spinach defrosted and drained of all the water

16 oz. cottage cheese

2 eggs

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

3 ¼ cup shredded mozzarella

White sauce or Bechamel sauce

3 tbs. butter

3 tbs. flour

3 cups skim milk

½ cup parmesan

¼ tsp. nutmeg

Directions

Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions.  When cooked drain the water and set aside to cool. 

In the meantime, peel and wash the onions and carrots.  Dice them and set them aside.  Peel and dice the garlic.  In a large sauce pan, add the olive oil and sauté the diced onions and garlic. Add the diced carrots, mushrooms and spinach. Season to taste.  Remove from heat, let it cool, then add the cottage cheese, eggs and 1 cup shredded mozzarella. Set aside.

Make the white sauce:

In a pan, melt the butter and add the flour, to make a roux.  While stirring with a whisk add the milk and nutmeg, and continue cooking till it thickens, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and add the ½ cup Parmesan. Mix  well together and set it aside.

Assembly:

Layer the lasagna, by putting some of the white sauce on the bottom of a 13x9 oven proof pan, then the lasagna noodles, the spinach filling, some of the white sauce, and repeat. On top finish with noodles, white sauce and 2 and ¼ cups shredded mozzarella. Bake at 350° F for about an hour till the cheese is all melted and it’s heated through.  Remove from the oven and let it cool before serving. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving (235.8 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 321

Calories from Fat 151

Total Fat 16.8g

Saturated Fat 8.4g

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 73mg

Sodium 562mg

Total Carbohydrates 21.2g

Dietary Fiber 1.3g

Sugars 4.8g

Protein 21.7g

 The stuffing

The layers with the stuffing....

.....and the noodles....

....with the shredded mozzarella before it goes in the oven

The final product... ready to eat.  Enjoy!