Spiced Pork & Baked Rigatoni Pasta

with Fresh Mozzarella & Spinach Salad

40 MIN

4 Servings

Wellness at Blue Apron

Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.

Vegetarian

These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.

Carb Conscious

This applies to meal kit recipes with 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. Carb Conscious Add-ons contain 20g or less net carbs.

Mediterranean Diet

Our Mediterranean recipes are inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, a healthy eating plan recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published jointly every five years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). This eating plan highlights the flavors and cooking styles from countries along the Mediterranean Sea, including those in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. These recipes showcase a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as well as lean proteins and moderate portions of dairy.

600 Calories or Less

These meals contain 600 calories or less per serving. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.

Wellness Grain

These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.

Pescatarian

These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.

30g Of Protein

These meals contain 30g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Keto Friendly

These meals have approximately 10% of calories from carbohydrates, 20% from protein, and 70% from dietary fats (per serving).

45g Of Protein

These meal kit recipes contain 45g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Nutritionist's Pick

These meals are selected by Blue Apron’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. They are centered around nutritious and wholesome ingredients, featuring whole grains and fresh produce which provide fiber. They also contain moderate portions of dairy and lean protein while being mindful of saturated fat.

Wheat Free

These meals are prepared with ingredients that do not contain wheat. They feature grains such as barley and rice as well as proteins and vegetables.

Reduced Sodium

These Prepared and Ready dishes contain at least 25% less sodium per 100 grams (or 3.5 oz) than our average Prepared and Ready Meal as of October 1, 2024. Sodium content has been reduced from 330 mg per 100 grams to 250 mg per 100 grams. These dishes focus on ingredients with strong flavor and moderate salt.

Vegan

To view a recipe's full nutrition information, head to your Upcoming page at blueapron.com, click on a specific recipe, then head to the Nutrition tab and select 'View Full Nutrition.' Nutrition Facts Panels are available up to 1.5 weeks in advance

From the Test Kitchen

In this recipe, we’re making a rich and hearty meat sauce with ground pork, hand-crushed tomatoes and classic Italian spices. (Be gentle when you crush the tomatoes! Their juices may spray.) We’re mixing our sauce with chewy rigatoni pasta, topping it with silky mozzarella cheese and baking it all in the oven until the top crisps up and the flavors meld to perfection. A simple spinach and cucumber salad on the side brings color and balance to this robust meal.

See Plans

Nutrition

PER SERVING
Calories

700 Cals (est.)

fresh

ingredients

time-saving

tips & techniques

step-by-step

instructions

Cook Along

1 Cook the pasta:

Preheat the oven to 475°F. Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the pasta. Cook 9 to 11 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Rinse and dry the pot.

2 Prepare the ingredients:

While the pasta cooks, wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel and thinly slice the garlic. Peel, halve and thinly slice the onion. Tear the mozzarella cheese into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the cucumber into rounds. Place the tomatoes in a bowl; gently break apart with your hands.

3 Start the sauce:

In the pot used to cook the pasta, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the garlic and onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 4 minutes, or until softened and fragrant. Add the ground pork and spice blend; season with salt and pepper. Cook, frequently breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the pork is lightly browned and cooked through. Carefully drain off and discard any drippings from the pot.

4 Finish the sauce:

Add the tomatoes to the pot; cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until thoroughly combined and slightly reduced in volume. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

5 Assemble & bake the pasta:

Add the cooked pasta to the pot of finished sauce; stir to thoroughly combine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a baking dish. Evenly top with the cheese; season with salt and pepper. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, or until slightly crispy on top and the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and let stand for 2 minutes before serving.

6 Make the salad & serve your dish:

While the pasta bakes, in a small bowl, combine the vinegar and mustard; season with salt and pepper to taste. Slowly whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until well combined. Just before serving, in a large bowl, combine the spinach, cucumber and enough of the vinaigrette to coat the salad (you may have extra vinaigrette). Toss to mix and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving dish. Serve with the baked pasta. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs