Creamy Tomato Spinach Pine Nut Bake (Printer-friendly)
Layers of fresh spinach, cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts in a rich, creamy sauce. A comforting vegetarian bake perfect for cozy dinners.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 10.5 ounces fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped
02 - 14 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
→ Dairy & Eggs
05 - 3/4 cup heavy cream
06 - 3.5 ounces ricotta cheese
07 - 2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 2 large eggs
→ Nuts
09 - 1.75 ounces pine nuts
→ Seasonings
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
14 - Pinch of nutmeg
→ Other
15 - 1.75 ounces breadcrumbs
# How-To Guide:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a medium baking dish with a little olive oil.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
03 - Add the spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted for 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, ricotta, Parmesan, oregano, black pepper, salt, and nutmeg until smooth.
05 - Gently fold in the cooked spinach mixture and half the cherry tomatoes.
06 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Scatter the remaining cherry tomatoes and pine nuts evenly over the top.
07 - Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
08 - Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown and set in the center.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Its the kind of dinner that makes your kitchen smell incredible while it bakes
- The combination of creamy ricotta and sweet cherry tomatoes is absolutely magic
02 -
- Squeezing excess moisture from the spinach after wilting prevents a watery bake
- The center should be set but still slightly creamy when you remove it from the oven
03 -
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed and the dish works just as well
- Room temperature cream whisks more smoothly into the eggs