What To Eat With Pasta Bake? Exciting Things To Know!

by Jane Stowe March 7, 2021

Are you cooking pasta, but you have no idea what to eat with pasta bake?

There are many side dishes that pair well with heavy and hearty baked pasta dishes, from crisp and crunchy salads, garlic bread to a side of greens.

A pasta bake is a dish prepared by parboiling or soaking the pasta in water. Then it is mixed with the sauce and other ingredients and is baked in an oven.

Baking the pasta adds a crispy crust that contrasts the tenderness of the dish.

Pasta bake is one of the easiest ways to prepare a good pasta meal. Nothing beats if you pair it with a side that compliments it.

That would elevate your dining experience, even just at home.

If you want to know what to eat with your pasta bake, just keep on reading! Read more here what is pasta bake.

What You Can Eat With Your Pasta Bake?

A pasta bake does not need much help to be the crowd’s favourite at the dining table.

Still, it never hurts to add alongside a cooked vegetable or salad to make the whole meal feel a bit more complete.

Here are some of the options on what to eat with pasta bake.

Caesar Salad

The ingredients and tools to make a great Caesar salad can be found in almost every kitchen. But the technique is what makes a Caesar salad good.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

For the croutons

3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups stale bread (cut into one-inch cubes)
1 teaspoon salt

For the dressing

¾ cup anchovy fillets
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup of vegetable oil
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the salad

4 medium-sized Romaine lettuce
5 ounce Parmesan cheese, shaved

Steps to follow

Follow the steps below:

Step #1. Make your croutons

In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the oil on high heat until simmering, then adds the cubed leftover bread.

Sprinkle with salt and toss to make sure the bread is coated evenly with the oil and salt.

Toss the bread every minute or so until all cubes are golden brown. This process will take about 5 to 6 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool.

Stovetop croutons are the best since you can customize them to your preference rather than using a store-bought one.

You can prepare this in advance and store it in an air-tight container at room temperature to ensure crispiness.

Step #2. Make the dressing

Chop the garlic and anchovies finely together until it forms into a smooth paste and set it aside.

In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks until completely smooth.

Then start by slowly incorporating the mustard and the anchovy-garlic you prepared earlier, then pour in the lemon juice until smooth.

Pour the olive oil, then the vegetable oil, then whisk for 2 minutes or until it thickens. Read more here how to thicken pasta sauce.

Lastly, add the Parmesan cheese then black pepper to taste.

Step #3. Prepare the Romaine lettuce

The key is to cut the Romaine lettuce into bite-sized and uniformed pieces; this makes it easier to eat with a fork.

Make sure that the Romaine is fresh and crisp and not wilted.

After you finish cutting the lettuce into bite-sized pieces, make sure to wash them in cool running water.

Dry them using a salad spinner, or if you do not have a salad spinner, you can dry it by laying it on paper towels.

Do not skip this method because we want to make sure that the dressing will coat the Romaine lettuce well.

Step #4. Toss then serve

You can now assemble your salad by mixing the dressing to the lettuce first, then toss it together and add croutons and toss again.

Place the lettuce in a large bowl, add about half of the dressing, and toss to combine. Then add your homemade croutons, then toss again.

Lastly, add some shaved Parmesan cheese to garnish. Serve immediately.

You can now assemble your salad by mixing the dressing to the lettuce first, then toss it together and add croutons and toss again.

Salad will always be a classic pasta side dish. Something as simple as this is perfect to pair with your pasta bake.

These are great to pair with baked ziti, lasagna, and other Ricotta-heavy dishes.

#2. Roasted Vegetables

Sauteed or steamed vegetables are fine. But another way to elevate a vegetable is by roasting them. They are great for pasta bakes too.

Anyway, aside from using vegetables, you can also use a 100% organic pasta from Torre & Olive.

Ingredients

1 medium eggplant, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 teaspoon of salt
5 large potatoes
4 tablespoon olive oil
1 ounce of salad dressing mix of your choice
3 medium zucchini, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 large onion, cut into wedges

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lightly oil a large baking tray, toss the eggplant and salt, and drain it in a colander to drain the juice. Rinse the eggplants and pat dry with a paper towel.

In a large mixing bowl, put the potatoes, salad dressing and toss until completely coated. Spread on the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

Lastly, put the eggplant, onion, zucchini, oil, and salad dressing mix in a large bowl, then toss.

Add it to the potatoes, mix and spread them out, then bake for about 45 to 55 minutes or until tender. Then serve hot.

For Final Words

There are many ways you can elevate your baked main pasta dish with the help of a side dish.

In this article, I hope you learned what to eat with pasta bake and make your meals more delicious and enjoyable.

Thank you so much for reading. Enjoy your day!