Spaghetti Bird's Nest

As I was grocery shopping yesterday, I came across mini mozzarella balls (Bambini Bocconcini). They reminded me of bird eggs and inspired  this dish. What a fun night in the kitchen! I wished I had my niece and nephew there helping me. I even snuck in some veggies, disguised as tree leaves : ) 

Hope you have as much fun as I did creating a delicious work of art. Mangia!! 

Spaghetti Bird's Nest

(yields 4 nests)

Pasta Ingredients:
1/2 box spaghetti
3 packed cups fresh spinach leaves, finely chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Assembly Ingredients:
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg

extra virgin olive oil (for drizzling)

Plating Ingredients:
2 cups pasta sauce
12 small fresh mini mozzarella balls

homemade mini meatballs (optional)

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line mini bunt pans or large muffin tins (4” diameter) with aluminum foil and grease with olive oil.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until aldente, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and place in a large bowl. Add the chopped spinach, cheese, olive oil and salt. Toss well until the spinach is wilted. Set aside to cool.

Whisk together Parmesan cheese, milk, salt and egg in a small bowl. Pour the sauce over the spaghetti mixture and toss until well combined. Twirl large spoonfuls (about 1/2 cup) of the spaghetti mixture around a large fork or thongs and transfer to the prepared pans. Make an indentation in the middle of each nest of pasta and drizzle with olive oil. Bake 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, remove from pan and gently take off aluminum foil.

Spoon 1/2 cup of the pasta sauce onto serving plates and place the spaghetti nests on the sauce. Place 3 mozzarella balls in each nest. Optional side- mini meatballs. 

They are almost too cute to eat!!