An easy fuss-free meal, based on the family classic, pasta bake, with a low carb twist! If you love all those delicious Mediterranean flavours then this recipe has got you covered with oozy mozzarella, basil pesto, tomatoes, sweet roasted red peppers, black olives and pancetta.
A pasta bake is probably one of the simplest fuss-free meals out there, with so many possibilities you can never really tire of them. Tuna and sweetcorn pasta bake used to be a childhood favourite of mine, but through the years, I’ve experimented with lots of different tastes and flavours and found a new favourite.
- 4 courgettes
- ½ cup pancetta
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
- 2 Peppadew Roasted Red Peppers
- 3 tbsps green pesto
- 1/3 cup buffalo mozzarella
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Preheat the oven to 190 degrees.
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Spiralise the courgettes or alternatively create courgette ribbons with a speed peeler and set aside for later.
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In a large pan, fry off the pancetta in its own fat for 3 minutes. Pour in the cherry tomatoes and cook for another 3 minutes.
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Next slice the Peppadew Roasted Red Peppers and add them to the pan with the olives and courgetti and green pesto.
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Mix and stir well to make sure everything is coated in the green pesto and evenly distributed.
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Transfer everything to a baking dish and sprinkle over the buffalo mozzarella.
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Bake for 15 minutes and serve when cooked.
This recipe is loosely based on a classic Italian combination of ingredients of basil, mozzarella and tomatoes, which always hits the spot! I’m not sure what it is about those calprese flavours but they really work and I always look forward to a calprese salad in the summer. To change things up a bit I added salty black olives and pancetta and sweet Peppadew Roasted Red Peppers. Roasted red peppers are such a great thing to keep stocked in your kitchen cupboards because you can literally put them in anything and they taste great in this baked courgetti dish. This particular variety is a firm favourite in our house!
Normally when I cook with pasta I use spelt pasta or pasta alternatives, but since purchasing my spiraliser I’ve preferred making courgetti as a lighter low carb option. I’m a massive courgetti fan and regularly eat it topped with a homemade ragu using organic minced beef. This time round, I wanted to try something a little different and baked it in the oven with some of my favourite ingredients instead. After this, I’ll definitely be making baked courgetti again and again and again!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PASTA BAKE RECIPE? HAVE YOU TRIED BAKED COURGETTI BEFORE?
This is delicious and looks pretty healthy! Is there any version for lazy cookers like me? lol
Ha! It’s pretty easy as it is. 🙂
I’ve never tried courgetti and I feel like I’m missing out – this dish looks delicious 🙂
Thank you! It’s a lovely way to use up courgettes.
That looks amazing!! We are big fans of peppadew peppers in this house but usually we just eating them straight from the jar… love the idea of using them in cooking
We love them like that too or just thrown on a salad with roasted veggies.
Awesome spring dinner 🙂
Pancetta perfectly combined with vegetables!
Thank you!
This looks fabulous, although I wouldn’t have the black olives, I only like the green x
Thank you! You could easily leave the olives out or use green ones. 🙂
I tried courgette spaghetti for the first time last week and I actually quite liked it! I will have to try this recipe, it sounds amazing! And low carbs, too! Great for weight loss. Thank you for sharing. xx
Absolutely, a great alternative to pasta.
I neec to give This recipe ago looks a great way to get more veg into our diet.
So true, courgetti is a great way to do this.
I wish I could cook something as good as this. It looks like a tasty recipe.
It’s so easy that anyone can make it.
We love courgetti, but I have never thought to put it in a bake before. Pasta bakes are so comforting, aren’t they!
They’re so easy to just throw together and you’re right, they’re very comforting.
This looks really great. I love those roasted peppers and honestly, it’s easier and cheaper to have a jar in than make your own isn’t it!
Ha! Yes, I love the convenience of having a jar of peppers in the cupboard.
Making this! I love everything about it.
Thank you! 🙂
That looks really delicious and looks like something we would love
Thanks, my family love it!
Oh yummy! I have weaknesses for all these ingredients. Must try
I hope you like it if you try it. 🙂
What a BEAUTIFUL dish Jemma! You`ve totally helped me with my next Meatless Monday dinner plan! Thanks for the great post!
http://www.chileandsalt.com/easy-kielbasa-brussel-sprout-squash-pepper-skillet/
Yay! Happy to hear that you want to give this a go! Thank you. 🙂
Courgettes are zucchini and summer squash right? This looks so simple and delicious.. I keep thinking about buying a spirilizer but haven’t done it yet!
Yeah, it’s the UK terminology, sorry! 🙂 Do it! I love my spiraliser and use it a lot.
Love this (as usual) Jemma! Haven’t made a pasta bake in forever. And it looks so easy 🙂 x
yum – great idea to put courgetti into a pasta bake!
What a delicious looking dish. Really needing to eat less carbs and this sounds perfect. Lovely photos too.
I know of so many people using courgetti but I haven’t actually tried it myself. This looks delicious, I’ll definitely be saving this recipe x
It looks fresh,delicious and just what you need as comfort food.The red peppers and mozzarella look yummy!
I’ve started using courgetti and boodles quite a lot now but have never thought to use them in a pasta bake – great idea! Will definitely be trying it out 🙂
This looks completely yummy. I love the idea of the courgetti and all those flavours are my favourite. I will have to try this. Hugs Lucy xxxx
Having been won over to courgetti recently, this looks like a lovely way to use them. Peppadew are a favourite in this house, but I usually make them into soup.