Baked Pasta Cheese With Tomatoes Food

TOMATO, BASIL AND CHEESE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water. Add small shell pasta and cook the pasta to al dente doneness which means that the pasta will still have a bite to it or be a little chewy. The pasta will soak up more juice and keep on cooking after we drain it, so we need it to be a little under cooked. The shells will probably cook about 9 or 10 minutes.
• Preheat a deep, big skillet or a medium sauce pot over medium heat.
• Place garlic on the cutting board and place the flat of your knife on top of each clove. Carefully give the garlic a whack with the palm of your hand to separate the cloves from the skins. Throw out the skins and chop up the garlic. Remember to keep your fingers curled under and the edge of your sharp, chef's knife tilted slightly away from your body.
• Add extra-virgin olive oil to the pan by pouring a slow stream of it twice-around-the-pan. This will be about 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil just enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Do not let the oil pour out too fast. You are looking for a slow, steady stream. Add the garlic to the oil. To chop the onion, cut the ends off and cut the whole onion down the center. Wrap half and save it. Cut the other half into thin slices then twist the slices a quarter turn and chop them again. Hold the tip of knife on the cutting board and lift the back of the knife up and down over the onion to make the pieces really small. Add the chopped up onion to the garlic and oil. Cook, stirring a lot, 5 minutes until the onions are mushy and look cooked.
• Add the tomatoes to the onions and stir. When the tomatoes come to a bubble, reduce the heat under the sauce to low. Stir in basil pieces to wilt them. Season the sauce with salt and peppe, to your taste.
• Preheat your broiler to high and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• Drain pasta shells. Add them to a flameproof casserole dish. Add pesto sauce, 1 cup of ricotta cheese and a handful of grated Parmigiano, too. Stir carefully and coat the hot pasta with the pesto and cheeses. Pour the hot tomato and basil sauce over the pasta, as much as you like. You can always serve a little extra at the table, to pass around. Shred up some mozzarella cheese with a grater and scatter it over the pasta. Add a final sprinkle of Parmigiano to the mozzarella as well. Place the casserole under the broiler in the middle of oven, 10 to 12 inches from the heat. Let the cheese melt and bubble on top, 3 to 5 minutes.

FOUR-CHEESE BAKED PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Halve the garlic crosswise to expose the cloves. Wrap the bottom half in foil and roast until very soft, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the skins from the top half and chop the garlic.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sliced fennel and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 2 more minutes. Add the tomato paste and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the tomatoes and 4 cups water; stir. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain, rinse under cold water and set aside.
• Pulse the focaccia in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skin and add to the food processor along with 1/4 cup each parmesan and parsley; pulse a few more times until combined. Set the breadcrumbs aside.
• Lightly brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Add the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce along with the fennel fronds, mozzarella, asiago and the remaining 1/4 cup each parmesan and parsley; toss. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with spoonfuls of the ricotta and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.
• Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until golden and bubbling, about 15 more minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

BAKED FOUR-CHEESE PASTA WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• For the topping:.
• Pulse bread in food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about ten 1-second pulses (you should have about 1 1/2 cups).
• Transfer to small bowl; stir in Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
• Set mixture aside.
• For the pasta:.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Bring 4 quarts water to rolling boil in stockpot.
• Combine cheeses in large bowl; set aside.
• Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water; stir to separate pasta.
• While pasta is cooking, melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat; whisk flour into butter until no lumps remain, about 30 seconds.
• Gradually whisk in cream, add tomatoes, and increase heat to medium, and bring to boil, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 1 minute to ensure that flour cooks.
• Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; cover cream mixture to keep hot and set aside.
• When pasta is very al dente (when bitten into, pasta should be opaque and slightly underdone at very center), drain about 5 seconds, leaving pasta slightly wet.
• Add pasta to bowl with cheeses; immediately pour cream mixture over, then cover bowl with foil or large plate and let stand 3 minutes.
• Uncover bowl and stir with rubber spatula, scraping bottom of bowl, until cheeses are melted and mixture is thoroughly combined. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil.
• Transfer pasta to 13 by 9-inch baking dish, then sprinkle evenly with reserved bread crumbs, pressing down lightly.
• Bake until topping is golden brown, about 7 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

BAKED PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes or until starting to brown.
• Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes; sauté 3 more minutes.
• Add tomatoes, paprika, salt and pepper.
• Stir well, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook pasta for 7 minutes or until tender and still a bit firm.
• Drain and toss with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl combine ricotta, pasta and sauce; mix gently to combine.
• Pour into a medium-sized baking dish and top with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.
• Serve garnished with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.

BAKED PESTO PASTA WITH TOMATO & CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
• Preheat your pot for the tomato sauce over medium heat.
• Add olive oil, then garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes.
• Next add the diced onion, crushed red pepper, bay leaf, and saute for about 5 minutes, or until onion soft and fragrant.
• Add the crushed tomatoes and stir well.
• When tomatoes begin to boil, reduce heat to low, add fresh basil leaves, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Let sauce simmer while you make your pesto (if not using store bought).
• Preheat broiler.
• Add pasta to boiling water and cook until just barely al dente.
• Drain pasta, and toss with 1 cup of your pesto sauce, 1/2 cup parmesan, and 1 cup of the ricotta cheese, be sure to blend well.
• Add pasta to a casserole dish.
• Top with the tomato basil sauce.
• You don't need to use all of the sauce, but rather serve the extra on the side.
• Top casserole with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Place under broiler for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
• **Note:Casserole can be assembled ahead of time, covered with foil, and then reheated in a 350 degree oven until heated through.
• Remove foil for last 5-10 minutes in order to melt cheese.

PENNE PASTA WITH TOMATOES AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat 3 Tbsp oil in pan.
• Saute onion and garlic.
• Mix in tomatoes, basil and ground red pepper.
• Bring to a boil, breaking up tomatoes.
• Add broth and boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer about 1 hour.
• (Can make this much ahead.) Cook pasta and drain.
• Toss with 3 Tbsp oil.
• Mix pasta with sauce and then mix in Havarti cheese.
• Put into 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in 375 oven about 30 minutes.
• ½ of this recipe will easily serve 4.

TOMATO, BASIL AND CHEESE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water. Add small shell pasta and cook the pasta to al dente doneness which means that the pasta will still have a bite to it or be a little chewy. Cook probably 9-10 minutes.
• Preheat a deep, big skillet or a medium sauce pot over medium heat.
• Place garlic on the cutting board and place the flat of your knife on top of each clove. Carefully give the garlic a whack with the palm of your hand to seperate the cloves from the skins. Throw out the skins and chop up the garlic.
• Add EVOO to the pan by pouring a slow stream of it twice-around-the-pan. Do not let the oil pour out too fast. Add the garlic to the oil.
• Chop onion finely. Add to garlic and oil. Cook, stirring frequently, five minutes or until onions are tender.
• Add the tomatoes to the onions and stir. When the tomatoes come to a bubble, reduce the heat under the sauce to low.
• Stir in basil pieces to wilt them. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to your taste.
• Preheat your broiler to high and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• Drain pasta shells. Add them to a casserole dish.
• Add pesto sauce, 1 cup ricotta cheese and a handful of grated parmigiano.
• Stir carefully and coat the hot pasta with the pesto and cheeses.
• Pour the hot tomato and basil sauce over the pasta.
• Shred up mozzarella and scatter over the pasta. Add a final sprinkle of parimigiano to the mozarella as well.
• Place the casserole under the broiler in the middle of oven, 10-12 inches from the heat. Let the cheese melt and bubble on top (3-5 minutes).

TOMATO N CHEESE PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a small saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, basil, oregano, sugar and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Drain pasta; stir into saucepan., Transfer to a greased 1-qt. baking dish. Top with cheeses. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

BAKED FETA PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Toss the cherry tomatoes and olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and several grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Transfer to a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish, place the feta in the center of the tomatoes and season with a pinch of black pepper. Bake until the tomatoes have burst and the feta has softened, about 30 minutes. Raise the heat to 450 degrees F and continue to cook until the tomatoes and feta are golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 13 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then thoroughly drain the pasta.
• As soon as the tomatoes and feta come out of the oven, stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Use the back of a spoon to smash the tomatoes and feta into a smooth and creamy sauce (it's okay if some of the oil isn't fully integrated). Add the pasta and half the basil and toss until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, stir in some pasta water a couple tablespoons at a time. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the remaining basil and a pinch of sea salt.

BAKED PASTA WITH SAUSAGE, TOMATOES, AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cook Pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain pasta; set aside.
• Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until sausage is browned, stirring to crumble. Add tomato paste, salt, black pepper, and diced tomatoes to pan; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Combine cooked pasta, sausage mixture, and basil. Place half of the pasta mixture in a 4-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with half mozzarella and half of Parmesan. Repeat layers. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until bubbly.