Although I had bought some nice whiting to eat tonight, I just couldn't resist making Spinach, Penne and Cheese Spouffle. It took a lot of saucepans - I think I used 3 or 4 in the end, as well as a bowl and numerous ladles, spoons and knives, my electric mixer and a cheese grater. It was one of those things that are described as 'simple' suppers but which take quite a bit of preparation. The recipe in Veg Everyday was for 4 portions so I halved it and somehow the ingredients looked very sparse. Just 37g of cheese, 50g of pasta and 25g each of butter and flour. I couldn't see it ever making anything substantial. Even half a packet of spinach wilted down to a little bit at the bottom of the saucepan. I was convinced that somehow it wouldn't come out to much.
Optimistically I prepared it and put it all into a nice Laura Ashley oven proof dish and popped it into the oven. After 30 minutes it came out and looked just lovely. It was just a bit brown on the top and creamy and delicious in the middle. And it tasted wonderful. And even though there wasn't much of anything in it, it felt like a good meal. This picture makes it look almost like an omelette but in fact it was quite deep and there was easily enough for 2 of us.
It all took a little longer to make as I was totting up calories as I went along. I reckon this was 430 calories per portion. For such a nourishing and sustaining meal I think that's quite good. This is a recipe that I think I will return to again and again. In the book, Hugh gives an alternative with courgettes and I can't wait to have a go at that.
