Stuffed Banana Peppers

Position oven rack 8 inches from heat source; preheat to 350°F. Spread tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch broiler-safe baking dish.

Squeeze spinach over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible. Transfer to a medium bowl; pull apart clumps. Add sausage, cherry peppers, basil, panko, garlic, 1/3 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon oil; mix well with your hands.

Trim and discard tops from banana peppers. Cut a lengthwise slit into each pepper; do not cut all the way through. Remove and discard seeds. Stuff the peppers evenly with the sausage mixture (about 3 tablespoons each). Arrange the peppers, slits-down, in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle evenly with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Cover the baking dish tightly with a double layer of foil.

Bake until the peppers are tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup cheese. Set oven to broil; broil until the cheese is melted and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with basil leaves, if desired.