To begin making the Baked Cheesy Pasta With Garlic & Crunchy Peanuts, we will first cook the pasta according to the package instructions along with salt. Once al dente, rinse the cooked pasta in cold water to stop the cooking process. 

Drizzle some oil and keep it aside.  Prepare the bechamel sauce according to instructions and keep it aside

Heat the 3 tablespoons of oil in a wok or a heavy bottomed pan on medium heat. Add the garlic cloves, sauté for 1 minute on medium high flame. Next, stir in the cooked pasta, salt and peanuts, and saute for few minutes. Finally stir in the black pepper powder, herbs and the prepared white sauce.

The next step is bake the Garlic Pasta in the oven.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. In a square or round baking pan (you can use a pie dish also) spread the cooked pasta evenly, top with grated cheese and bake for 12 minutes or until the top begins to turn light brown in color. Once the cheese begins to melt and is turning golden brown, remove from the oven.

Serve Baked Cheesy Pasta With Garlic & Crunchy Peanuts with Herb Mushroom Bruschetta Recipe for a weeknight dinner.