Ziti Baked with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Smoked Gouda

Great base recipe! I used 2 x 14oz cans of diced tomatoes w/ basil & garlic. I added about 1/2 a tsp of red pepper flakes and a handful of chopped fresh basil into the sauce. If I need a bit more protein in my meal I add some cooked & crumbled meatless Italian sausage. Love the smoked cheese in this dish, very easy to double to feed a crowd or for lunch leftovers. It's just as great the next day.

Great, easy recipe. I added Italian chicken sausage for some lean protein which tasted great. I doubled the amount of tomatoes because I like my pasta saucy. Also followed other reviews and added red chili flakes and fresh basil. Solid recipe, will make gain.

Really good! Gouda gives a great flavor, but doesn't get as melty.

This is a really great recipe - I love all the flavors combined for this dish. I've been trying to find more easy & delicious vegetarian meals and this one was perfect! I served it in ramekins along with small salad and fresh bread - it was a hit!

Fantastic recipe! I found this recipe in one of my C.L. cookbooks and as smoked gouda is my favorite cheese, I couldn't wait to make it this week. From start to finish, this dish only took me 30 minutes, so it's great for a weeknight meal. A few items I changed to our tastes at the simmer stage: Added a handful of chopped fresh basil and parsley to the tomato base; added extra garlic; added shredded cooked turkey breast; added 1/4 cup reduced fat grated parm cheese; and added 1 tbsp crushed red pepper. Also in in the preparation, my sauce was a little watery so I added a tsp of cornstarch at the end of the simmer which helped thicken up the juices. The whole dish fit nicely in a 9 x 13 glass baking dish in lieu of the individual containers. Finally, after 13 minutes of bake time, I turned my broiler on high and popped the whole thing in for 2 minutes to get that nice brown cheese topping. Awesome! Served with steamed asparagus for a rounded meal. Will definitely make again!

This is very very good. I couldnt find a can with Italian seasoning so I just got two cans of the garlic oregano and basil. It definitely needs some extra salt and pepper (I added cayenne as well). Also- I used whole wheat penne instead of white pasta to make it even healthier. I garnished it with fresh basil as well after reading the reviews. To sum it up, my boyfriend asked "Can you make this every week please?"- definitely a crowd pleaser.

The gouda is a nice twist - nice blend of flavors. Looking forward to making it again!!

I made several modifications, based upon the prior reviews, and found the recipe to be excellent. I used Rotel original tomatoes, added oregano, basil, thyme, black pepper and sugar to the sauce for more flavor. I also roasted red bell peppers instead of the sauteed yellow ones and added cooked chix breast and smoked provolone along with the gouda. The result is worthy of company!

This is a very tasty and veggie-rich ziti. I have never cared for baked ziti, but my husband loves Italian cuisine, so I decided to try this. YUM! I couldn't find the Rotel Italian tomatoes, so I used 10 oz. of fire-roasted tomatoes and 1 tsp each of dried basil and oregano. I also used twice as much cheese; half smoked gouda and half mozzerella (because my husband doesn't like strong cheeses, but I didn't want to give up the smokey flavor this recipe promised). I think it was a terrific compromise. Since the entree is so flavorful, I served it with simple steamed asparagus seasoned with a little butter, salt and pepper, and crusty french bread. It's a keeper!

I made this pasta bake for a potluck and everyone really enjoyed it. I made it with smoked gouda cheese, and two 14.5 cans of diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano, and basil. i would definitely make it again and I think buying a good smoked cheese really added to the dish,

This is a delicious meal. I have made it for friends and family several times. Everyone enjoyed it. Definitely worth the time!

I really wanted to like this recipe but it is missing something. It needs a little more spice and I actually think the yellow pepper does not work with this recipe. I would make again with some changes.