Baked Mozzarella And Tomato Basil Antipasti Recipes

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.

BAKED MOZZARELLA AND TOMATO-BASIL ANTIPASTI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In four 12- to 16-ounce or one 1-1/2-quart shallow ovenproof dish layer pasta sauce, garlic, and mozzarella. Bake 20 minutes or until mozzarella is melted. Remove from oven; drizzle olive oil. Top with basil. Serve with bread or Parmesan Toasted Baguette slices. Makes 4 servings. Parmesan Toast
• Preheat broiler. Lightly brush one side of bread slices with oil. Place bread slices, oil sides up, on a baking sheet. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat about 15 seconds or until toasted (watch carefully to avoid burning). Sprinkle with cheese. Broil about 15 seconds more or until cheese is melted.

BAKED MOZZARELLA WITH TOMATO AND BASIL ANTIPASTI

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Lightly brush baguette slices with olive oil.
• Broil bread for about 3 minutes; turn and sprinkle with Parmesan and dried basil; broil 1 to 2 minutes until lightly toasted; set aside.
• Reduce oven to 350 degrees F.
• In four individual oven proof dishes, layer tomato sauce, garlic, and mozzarella.
• Bake 20 minutes or until mozzarella is melted.
• Remove from oven and drizzle with oil.
• Top with fresh basil.
• Serve with toasted Parmesan baguette slices.

BAKED TOMATO, MOZZARELLA & BASIL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat half the oil in an ovenproof pan or casserole dish, then stir in the onion and cook over a low heat for 8-10 mins until golden. Scatter over the rice and mix well until coated. Pour over the wine, if using, and cook for 2 mins until absorbed. Pour over the hot stock, then give the rice a quick stir. Put the dish in the oven and bake the rice for 10 mins.
• Remove from the oven and stir through the tomatoes, basil, half of the parmesan and some seasoning. Flatten everything out roughly with the back of a spoon, then nestle the chunks of mozzarella evenly into the risotto. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and the remaining parmesan, and drizzle with the rest of the olive oil. Put the dish back in the oven, and bake everything for another 10-15 mins until the rice is just cooked through, heating it under the grill if you want a deep, golden crust. Leave to stand for a few minutes, scatter with a few extra basil leaves and serve scooped straight from the dish.

TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA ANTIPASTO

Steps:

• Place cheese in bowl.
• Combine tomatoes, olives and basil with vinegar.
• Toss with cheese and pour enough oil over all just to coat.
• Grind pepper on top.
• Can be served immediately or stored, covered in refrigerator up to two days.

TOMATO-BASIL PASTA WITH FRESH MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is crisp-tender. Stir in tomatoes. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Stir in basil.
• Meanwhile, cook and drain pasta as directed on box.
• Stir pasta into sauce. Cook until thoroughly heated. Into large serving bowl, pour pasta and sauce. Gently stir in cheese and pine nuts.

PASTA WITH TOMATOES, MOZZARELLA AND BASIL

Steps:

• Mix tomatoes, mozzarella, oil and vinegar in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature. Mix in basil.
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Return pasta to pot. Add tomato mixture and toss gently to blend. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

CREAMY PASTA BAKE WITH CHERRY TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent while penne is cooking, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. Stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add cream and Parmesan cheese and season with salt, pepper, and sugar.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.
• Stir some pasta cooking water into the sauce and add cooked penne. Remove from heat and stir in cherry tomatoes, 1/2 the mozzarella cheese, and basil. Pour penne mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.