Creamy Tomato Spinach Pine Nut Bake (Printable)
Rich vegetarian bake with tender spinach, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy pine nuts in a luscious creamy sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 10.5 oz fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped
02 - 14 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
→ Dairy & Eggs
05 - 0.85 cup heavy cream
06 - 3.5 oz ricotta cheese
07 - 2.1 oz grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 2 large eggs
→ Nuts
09 - 1.75 oz pine nuts
→ Seasonings
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
13 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
14 - Pinch of nutmeg
→ Other
15 - 1.75 oz breadcrumbs
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a medium baking dish with 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 until fragrant.
03 - Add the spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until wilted, about 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 and well combined.
05 - Gently fold the cooked spinach mixture and half the cherry tomatoes into the cream mixture until evenly distributed.
06 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Scatter the remaining cherry tomatoes and pine nuts evenly over the surface.
07 - Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly across the top.
08 - Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown and set in the center. A knife inserted near the center should come out clean.
09 - Allow the bake to cool for 5 minutes before serving to set the texture.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamy ricotta mixture creates the most incredibly silky texture that feels like a warm hug on cold evenings
- Those toasted pine nuts on top add this satisfying crunch that makes every bite interesting
02 -
- Don't skip the resting time after baking, I once served it immediately and it turned into a delicious but messy puddle on the plate
- If your cherry tomatoes are particularly large, quarter them instead of halving so they don't release too much water
03 -
- Toast your pine nuts in a dry pan before adding them to the dish, it brings out their natural buttery flavor
- If you only have salted butter or nuts, reduce the salt in the recipe by half to keep it perfectly balanced