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    Heart Healthy Recipe: Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

    Heart Healthy Recipe: Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

    baked-ziti-summer-vegetables-garden-zucchini

    Eating healthy is one of the three aspects being addressed in this year's Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute's My Heart Challenge: Family Edition. But finding those delicious, yet healthy, recipes can be a challenge.

    For your next family meal, try this colorful baked ziti - which is a healthier take on the classic dish. If you didn't know, the typical baked ziti dish can have up to 1,000 calories in a single serving, plus more than 100 percent of your daily value of saturated fats. The recipe below has more than two servings of vegetables per portion - but don't tell your kids that. 

    BAKED ZITI WITH SUMMER VEGETABLES
    Servings: 4
    Serving size: 1/4 of dish
    Prep time: 15 minutes
    Total time: 30 minutes

    INGREDIENTS

    • 4 ounces uncooked ziti
    • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
    • 2 cups yellow squash, diced
    • 1 cup zucchini, diced
    • 1/2 cup onion, diced
    • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
    • 1 cup shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese, divided
    • 2 Tbsp. basil, chopped
    • 2 tsp. oregano1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
    • 1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
    • 1 egg, lightly beaten
    PREPARATION
    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare an 8-inch baking dish by lightly coating with cooking spray.
    2. Prepare pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain. 
    3. Heat a large skillet with the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add squash, zucchini and onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and garlic and sauté for another 3 minutes.
    4. Remove from heat and stir in pasta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, basil, oregano and pepper flakes.
    5. Combine ricotta and egg and stir into pasta mixture. Pour into making dish and top with remaining mozzarella. 
    6. Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese bubbles and starts to brown.
    NUTRITION FACTS
    Total calories: 210 cals
    Total carbohydrates: 13 g
    Total fat: 12 g
    Dietary fiber: 3 g
    Saturated fat: 4.5 g
    Sodium: 250 mg
    Protein: 13 g