Cheap Budget Meal - Spinach and Ricotta Pasta

I will admit that this is not what I had planned to post this week. This was meant to be Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne.

However, I don't know about you, but in this heat the last thing I was is for the oven to be on for any length of time making the kitchen even hotter. So I have adapted this recipe so that I could just cook it on the hob without needing to cook in the oven.

This really is a tasty meal that all the family will love. My fussy 9 year old even had seconds!

Here is this week's Cheap Budget Meal recipe...

Spinach and Ricotta Pasta

Ingredients

500g spinach (£2)
250g ricotta (£1)
1 red onion, chopped (18p)
100g mini Portobello mushrooms, halved and sliced (50p)
300g pasta (29p per 500g bag)
75g mature cheddar cheese, grated (50p)
Olive oil
Salt
1/2tsp black pepper

Method

1 - Cook the pasta as per instructions on the packet

2 - Place the spinach in a pan of boiling water and boil for 3 minutes then drain

3 - Heat 2 tsp of olive oil in a frying pan and gently fry the onions and mushrooms for 5 minutes

4 - Chop the spinach and add to the frying pan

5 - Mix in the ricotta and cook for 5 minutes stirring continuously to break down the ricotta into a smooth sauce

6 - Sprinkle in the black pepper and a little salt to taste

7 - Pour the spinach and ricotta over the cooked pasta and combine the ingredients together

8 - Transfer the pasta into an oven proof dish, top with the grated cheese and place under a high grill until the cheese has melted and it beginning to brown then serve

I made this meal for just £4.47, that is a great, budgeting 89p per serving and there is pasta remaining for another meal!

This is not only a cheap budget meal to make but is also a quick and easy meal that does not require standing at a hot oven for a long time. Perfect for a summers meal.

Enjoy x