Beef Pasta Casserole

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cup pasta ( I used penne pasta )

250 gm ground beef / minced beef

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

1 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes

1 tsp chilli powder / paprika powder

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning / herb mix

1/2 tsp pepper powder, or as required

2 cups baby spinach

1/2 tsp oregano

salt to taste

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4-1/2 tsp chilli flakes

2 tbsp olive oil

Preparation:

1. Boil water in a large pan and add pasta, 1 tbsp oil and salt and cook for 8-10 minutes or according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and keep it aside.
2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan at medium flame and add chopped onion and garlic and saute well for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add ground beef / minced beef and and cook, breaking up lumps with a wooden spoon for 4-5 minutes or until browned and cooked.
4. Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning / herb mix , pepper powder, chilli powder and salt and mix well and cook at low flame for 5-6 minutes.
5. Add baby spinach into this and cook for 1-2 minutes. Adjust the salt and pepper powder.
6. Add the cooked pasta and mix well till the sauce is well coated with pasta.
7. Preheat the oven to 180 degree celcius.
8. Transfer half of the prepared pasta mixture to a greased baking dish and top with 2 tbsp parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
9. Add in the remaining pasta mixture and sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese on top.
10. Sprinkle little oregano and chilli flakes and bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes until the cheese melts. Serve hot...