Spaghetti Pie (with Broccoli & Carrot) by Jessica Seinfeld

For our next Jessica Seinfeld recipe from her cook book Deceptively Delicious, I picked Spaghetti Pie.  We really liked it and I think I'll make it again soon.  I made sure I had enough ingredients for two pies.  That way we had lunches ready for another days as well.  Otherwise it's just like Jessica Seinfeld says at the beginning of her Spaghetti Pie recipe: "This is a perfect recipe for that leftover pasta you've got in the fridge from last night's dinner."

This was the very first meal that our almost one year old ate with us - no baby food for her, she was so excited!  Instead she gobbled up Jessica Seinfeld's delicious Spaghetti Pie!  Let me know if you have any alternatives to this recipe and what you thought about it.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 8-10

*Nonstick cooking spray

*3 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti or angel hair pasta (or 1 cup leftover cooked pasta)**

*1/2 pound lean ground turkey or sirloin

*1/2 cup broccoli puree

*1 large egg white

*2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

*2 cloves garlic, chopped

*2 cups botteled tomato sauce

*1 cup lowfat (1%) cottage cheese

*1/4 cup carrot puree

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1/4 teaspoon pepper

*1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.  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 bowl, 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 center is firm and the cheese is bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes (I ended up cooking it a bit longer).


**I made it with whole-wheat Spaghettini.

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