Baked Rigatoni With Red Peppers And Green Olives Food

CHEESY RIGATONI PEPPER BAKE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions; drain and set aside to cool.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook until the onions are golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and tomato paste until everything is mixed together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread a thin layer of sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Layer in half of the cooked noodles, half of the cubed mozzarella, 3 tablespoons Parmesan and half of the sweet peppers. Top with half of the remaining sauce. Repeat the process with the remaining noodles and mozzarella, 3 tablespoons Parmesan and the remaining peppers and sauce. Top with the remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan. (If making ahead, cover and refrigerate.)
• Cover and bake until the sauce is bubbling and the peppers are cooked through, about 40 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving. Serve with Peppy Salad.
• Add the lettuce, pepperoncini, tomatoes, onion and mini pepper to a bowl. Drizzle over the olive oil and lemon, then sprinkle over some salt and pepper and toss.

RIGATONI WITH RED PEPPER, ALMONDS, AND BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta into a large bowl.
• Place the croutons and the almonds in a food processor. Pulse until it becomes the texture of bread crumbs. Add the crouton and almond mixture to the hot pasta. Add the peppers and the olive oil. Toss to combine and serve.

BAKED RIGATONI WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES AND PEPPER

Steps:

• Pulse tomatoes with juice in a food processor to a coarse purée. Put a large pot of water on to boil.
• In a large heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and add yellow pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Add garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.
• Add tomatoes, sugar and salt to taste, and turn up heat to medium-high. When tomatoes begin to bubble briskly and sputter, turn heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until tomatoes have cooked down to a fragrant, thick sauce, about 15 minutes. Add olives, black pepper and basil, stir together, taste and adjust seasoning.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish or gratin with olive oil.
• When water in pot comes to a boil, salt generously and add rigatoni. Cook al dente, removing from the water 1 minute sooner than indicated in the package instructions. (Reserve some of the cooking water.) Transfer pasta to a large bowl.
• If the tomato sauce seems very thick, thin out as desired with 2 to 4 tablespoons pasta cooking water. Scrape into bowl with pasta, add cheeses and toss well. Scrape into prepared baking dish. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top. Cover with foil.
• Bake 25 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake another 5 to 10 minutes, until bubbly and beginning to brown in spots. Serve hot.

BAKED RIGATONI WITH MEATBALLS AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni until very al dente, 2 to 3 minutes less than the label directs; drain.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is golden. Crush the plum tomatoes into the skillet with your hands; rinse out each can with 1/2 cup water and add the water to the skillet. Add the basil; simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes. Discard the basil; season the sauce with salt. (Alternatively, heat 4 cups prepared tomato sauce.)
• Stir the pancetta into the sauce, then add the meatballs, roasted red peppers and olives.
• Brush a 3-to-4-quart baking dish with olive oil. Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce and half of each cheese. Spread in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the pasta. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.