Penne With Roasted Tomatoes And Fennel Food

BAKED PENNE WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring, until the fat renders, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour off the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan. Add the onion and fennel and cook until the fennel is soft, about 5 minutes. Crush the tomatoes into the pan with your hands, then pour in the juices from the can and bring to a simmer. Fill the empty can with 1/2 cup of the boiling water and add to the sauce. Stir in the cream and simmer while you cook the pasta.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain and add to the sauce. Stir in the basil and 1/2 cup parmesan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with salt and toss.
• Oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Layer the pasta, mozzarella, fontina and the remaining 1/2 cup parmesan in the dish, alternating pasta and cheese. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake, uncovered, until browned and bubbly, about 15 minutes.

ROASTED FENNEL WITH TOMATOES (ITALIAN STYLE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375F.

ROASTED FENNEL WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Core and thinly slice 2 fennel bulbs; chop some of the fronds. Peel the cloves from 1 garlic bulb and toss with the fennel and fronds, 1 quartered lemon, 3 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon each salt and sugar on a baking sheet. Roast in a 500 degrees F oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Toss in 1 pint grape tomatoes; roast until the tomatoes burst, 7 more minutes.

PENNE WITH ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line bottom of casserole dish with cherry tomatoes in a single layer, halved side up. Pour oil on top, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle cheese and bread crumbs on top. Bake until tomatoes have wilted, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with enough sea salt so that water tastes mildly of salt. When tomatoes are just about done, add penne to water and cook until al dente (it should be pliable, but still firm in center). Scoop out about a cup of pasta water and reserve. Drain pasta and add to casserole. Fold tomatoes and pasta together, adding another 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil, to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning. If it is dry, add a little reserved pasta water. Serve, passing more grated cheese at the table.

PENNE WITH ROASTED TOMATOES, GARLIC, AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Slice each tomato into 8 wedges and discard the seeds. Put the tomato wedges and garlic into a 9 by 13-inch roasting pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and a few turns of pepper. Roast in the oven, uncovered, for 40 minutes.
• Drain the beans into a large colander in the sink. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta into the colander containing the beans, so the hot pasta water will warm the beans. Return drained pasta and beans to the pasta pot.
• When the tomatoes are done, pick out the garlic cloves, squeeze the garlic out of the skin into a small bowl and mash with a fork. Pour the roasted tomatoes into the pasta pot, add the garlic, the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the basil and additional salt and pepper, to taste. Toss to combine. Serve topped with the Parmesan.

PENNE WITH PAN-ROASTED TOMATOES AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and return it to the pot.
• Meanwhile, cut the tomatoes in half, scrape the seeds out of each half with a small tool or your finger, and cut into 1-inch pieces. Peel the garlic and leave the cloves whole. Coarsely chop the basil leaves.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the tomatoes and garlic, cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the garlic is soft. Remove the garlic from the pan and set aside. Put the beans in a strainer and rinse under running water. Drain the beans and add them to the pan, then remove the pan from the heat. Smash the garlic with a fork and add it to the drained pasta. Add the tomatoes and basil, stir well, and season with salt and pepper. Pour the pasta into a large serving bowl, sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
• Basil is native to India, though it's since become integral to the cooking of countries as far a field as Italy and Thailand. When it migrated to Italy, it became a symbol of love, with young women wearing sprigs in their hair to encourage their suitors.

PENNE WITH ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Line bottom of a casserole dish with tomato halves in a single layer.
• Pour oil on top, season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle cheese and breadcrumbs on top.
• Bake until tomatoes have wilted, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil.
• Season with enough sea salt so that water is pretty salty.
• When tomatoes are just about done, add penne to water and cook until al dente.
• Scoop out a cup of the pasta water and reserve.
• Drain pasta and toss right into casserole and fold pasta into tomato mixture, adding 2-3 Tablespoons more olive oil, to coat.
• Taste, adjust seasoning, if it is dry, add some of the pasta water.
• Serve, passing more grated cheese at the table.
• I have added chopped fresh basil when tossing the pasta and really love the flavor it brings.