Puttanesca meatball bake

1 of 5-a-day anchovies capers family friendly family meals kids meatballs pasta pasta bake

N/A

Serves 4-6

Source

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

24 ready-made meatballs

2 garlic cloves, finely sliced

pinch dried chilli flakes (optional)

2 anchovies, chopped (optional)

2 small courgettes (about 250g), coarsely grated

2 tbsp capers, rinsed, drained and roughly chopped

70g pitted black olives, halved

500ml passata

300g penne (or other pasta shapes)

2 tbsp grated parmesan

Method

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat the oil in a frying pan and gently fry the meatballs until they are browned all over, then tip them into a dish. Add the garlic and chilli, if using, to the leftover oil in the pan and cook it briefly along with the anchovies, if using. Fry until the anchovies almost melt, then add the courgettes and cook until any liquid they give off has evaporated. Stir in the capers, olives and passata and bring to a simmer. Add the meatballs and cook for 5 mins more, then season if needed.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions, drain well, then tip into an ovenproof baking dish about 25cm wide. Spoon over the meatball mixture, stir into the pasta and level the surface as much as possible. Sprinkle over the parmesan and bake for 30 mins, or until the top is browned a little and the sauce is bubbling. Rest for 5 mins before serving.