Try this fast and easy pasta dish. It’s simple to prepare, making it perfect for a weeknight meal. If you want more protein, add some precooked diced chicken. Add a green salad loaded with tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and your favorite vinaigrette.
(Yield: 8 servings)
Ingredients:
| 1 lb. Ziti
1 – 26 oz jar of Marinara Sauce ½ cup Reduced Fat Ricotta Cheese |
¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper
3 TBSP Grated Parmesan Cheese Cooking Spray |
Directions:
- Cook pasta according to directions on package.
- While pasta is cooking, combine 1 ½ cup marinara sauce with ricotta cheese and crushed red pepper in a blender, blending until smooth (about 1 minute).
- Preheat oven to broil and spray a 13-by-9 inch baking dish with PAM.
- Drain pasta and add to the baking dish.
- Add ricotta mixture to baking dish and mix well.
- Add the remaining marinara sauce on top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Broil for 10 minutes, until heated through, with oven door slightly open.
- Periodically check to ensure top layer does not blacken.
Nutritional information per Serving:
Calories 308 | Carbohydrates 46 g | Protein 13 g | Fat 8 g | Sat. Fat 2 g
© Randy Bird, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS and Randy Bird Sports Nutrition, 2010.
Randy Bird Sports Nutrition 
Leave a Reply