Creamy Tomato Spinach Pine Nut Bake (Printable)
Layers of fresh spinach, cherry tomatoes, and toasted pine nuts baked in a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce. A comforting Mediterranean-style vegetarian dish.
# 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 (optional)
→ Other
15 - 1.75 oz breadcrumbs
# How-to Steps:
01 - Preheat 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 chopped onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add spinach to skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until wilted, 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, ricotta, Parmesan, oregano, black pepper, salt, and nutmeg (if using) 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 mixture into prepared baking dish. Scatter remaining cherry tomatoes and pine nuts evenly over the surface.
07 - Drizzle with remaining tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle breadcrumbs across the top.
08 - Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown and set in the center. A knife inserted should come out clean.
09 - Let cool for 5 minutes before serving to allow the bake to set.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamiest dreamiest texture that still feels light enough for any season
- That golden pine nut crust is the kind of topping that makes people reach for seconds before asking whats in it
02 -
- Spinach holds a shocking amount of water so squeeze it gently after wilting or your bake will never set properly
- Pine nuts burn faster than you expect so watch them closely during the last 10 minutes of baking
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients whisk together more smoothly preventing any curdling in the sauce
- The dish actually tastes better the next day so consider making it ahead if you have the willpower