Sausage ragu & spinach pasta bake

• good-quality pork sausages↗6

  (about 400g), skinned

• jar passata↗680g g

  with garlic and herbs

• oregano↗1 tbsp tbsp

  chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

• pasta↗500g g

  shapes

• spinach↗400g g
• ready-made cheese sauce (2 x 350g tubs)

  (use a full-fat one if freezing)

• freshly grated nutmeg
• parmesan↗100g g

  grated

• egg↗1

  beaten, to glaze

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat a large frying pan and brown the sausages, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat. Pour off any fat from the pan, stir in the passata, bring to the boil, then add the oregano and season. Simmer for 10 mins.

2. 2

   Cook the pasta for 2 mins less than the pack says, reserve some cooking water, then drain, cool under cold water and drain again. Meanwhile, pour a kettle of boiling water over the spinach in a colander to wilt, then squeeze out all the water. Mix the pasta with the cheese sauce and some of the reserved water, to loosen. Season.

3. 3

   In a large dish, add the meat sauce, then the spinach, some nutmeg and seasoning. Next, add a third of the Parmesan, the cheesy pasta, more nutmeg and finally the rest of the cheese. Wrap and freeze. Defrost at room temperature for about 8 hrs. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake for 40-45 mins, until the dish is piping hot and golden.