- 2 tablespoons [30 mL] olive oil
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- 4 zucchinis, diced
- 1 sweet green pepper, diced
- 1 sweet yellow pepper, diced
- 1 eggplant, peeled and diced [optional]
- 2 [19-ounce / 540-mL each] cans tomatoes or stewed tomatoes
- 1 [5 1/2-ounce / 156-mL] can tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons [10 mL] basil
- 1 teaspoon [5 mL] oregano
- 1 teaspoon [5 mL] sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons [7.5 mL] salt
- 3/4 teaspoon [3.75 mL] pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon [1 mL] thyme
- 1/4 cup [60 g] butter
- 1/4 cup [35 g] flour
- 2 cups [500 mL] milk
- 1 cup [250 mL] grated Mozzarella cheese
- 1 pound [454 g] spaghetti noodles [or less]
- 1/2 cup [125 mL] freshly grated Parmesan cheese
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- Into a large metal casserole, heat 1 tablespoon [15 mL] of the olive oil, over medium-high heat.
- Mix in chopped onions, minced garlic, zucchini dices, sweet green and yellow pepper dices and eggplant dices.
- Cook, stirring for 5 to 10 minutes, until vegetables just start to soften.
- Mix in canned tomatoes or stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, sugar, 1 teaspoon [5 mL] salt, 1/2 teaspoon [2.5 mL] pepper and thyme.
- Bring to a boil; lower heat.
- Simmer, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- Into a casserole, melt butter over medium heat.
- Whip in flour
- Cook, whipping, for 2 minutes [do not let brown].
- Whip in milk; bring to a boil.
- Lower heat to medium-low.
- Cook, whipping, for approximately 10 minutes or until thick.
- Mix in grated Mozzarella cheese, remaining salt and remaining pepper; stir.
- Cook, stirring, to melt cheese.
- Check for seasonings; reserve.
- Meanwhile, into a large casserole filled with salted boiling water, boil spaghetti noodles for 5 minutes, until still quite crunchy.
- Preheat oven to 350°F [180°C].
- Drain then transfer pasta noodles back into casserole.
- Stir in remaining tablespoon [15 mL] olive oil and vegetable sauce, until well blended.
- Transfer pasta mixture into an oven-safe 13 x 9-inch [23 x 13-cm] dish.
- Spoon reserved cheese sauce all over.
- Sprinkle all over with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Transfer baking dish onto a baking sheet.
- Bake into preheated oven for 40 to 60 minutes or until hot and golden, checking from time to time as baking time can be different from one oven to the other.
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