Baked Pasta With Tomato Red Pepper And Sweet Italian Sauce Recipes

BAKED FETA PASTA {RED PEPPER OR TOMATO}

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In 2-quart or larger baking dish*, place feta block in the center, then arrange peppers or tomatoes (or combo) around the feta.
• Sprinkle garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning over the peppers/tomatoes. Drizzle all with olive oil.
• Bake for about 40-45 minutes at 400 degrees or until the vegetables are roasted (starting to char a little in places) and the feta is soft and browning on top.
• During the bake time, bring pot of salted water to boil (I use 4-6 qt water and 2 generous teaspoons salt.) Cook the pasta when the bake time has about 8-10 minutes left.
• Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain pasta.
• Stir together baked feta and peppers/tomatoes. I like to smush the tomatoes to release their juices. Add pasta and 1/4 cup pasta water and stir together. The starchy pasta water will help bind it all together. Add more pasta water as needed - a little at a time. It will thicknen up as you stir and as it sits. (FYI - the peppers aren't as juicy as the tomatoes - so you may need a little more of the pasta water.)
• Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve!

BAKED PASTA WITH TOMATO, RED PEPPER, AND SWEET ITALIAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Sauce-in a large, deep skillet (the author uses a deep flameproof casserole, but I never cook on the stovetop in a casserole pan), heat the oil over med-high heat.
• Cook the sausage meat, breaking up the meat with a spoon, for about 5 minutes, or until no pinkness remains.
• Drain of most of the fat.
• Add the mushrooms and saute for 4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
• Add the marinara sauce and red peppers, reduced heat to medium, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Add the cream, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
• Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Taste and adjust for seasonings.
• Preheat the oven to 375°.
• Oil a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Salt the water, add the pasta, and cook over high heat for 10-11 minutes, OR until al dente; drain well.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cheeses.
• Combine the pasta with the sauce in the pan; add 1 cup of the blended cheeses and arugula leaves, mixing well to combine.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared dish and evenly sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the sauce begins to bubble and the cheese is browned.
• Serve immediately.

RED PEPPER TOMATO PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until barely tender and still firm to the bite, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a 10-inch Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef and saute until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer beef to a large baking dish; drain and discard grease. Drain pasta and mix in with the beef.
• Melt butter in the same pan. Add onion, bell peppers, celery, garlic, and Thai chiles. Cook and stir until onions turn translucent, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer vegetable mixture to a blender. Pour in marinara sauce, milk, cream cheese, Sriracha sauce, sour cream, and tomato paste. Blend until combined but still chunky. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired. Pour sauce over the beef and pasta in the baking dish.
• Beat eggs together in the blender. Pour into the baking dish and mix well. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Pat mixture down and top with remaining cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until set, 20 to 30 minutes.

SPAGHETTI WITH SWEET RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in large nonstick skillet over medium high heat.
• Add garlic, onion, and red peppers and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender.
• Add stock, salt and pepper.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are very tender.
• Puree in food processor (or use immersion blender), return to pan and simmer 8 minutes until sauce thickens.
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
• Drain well and add to sauce in skillet.
• Sprinkle with basil; toss for one minute to allow pasta to absorb flavours.
• Transfer to large serving bowl and sprinkle with lemon zest.
• Serve with cheese and pass the peppermill.

ROASTED RED PEPPER TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Cut off and discard top quarter of garlic head and wrap remainder in foil. Arrange tomatoes, cut sides up, in a foil-lined 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking pan and sprinkle lightly with salt. Add whole bell pepper and garlic (in foil) to pan and roast vegetables in middle of oven 1 hour.
• Transfer bell pepper to a bowl and cover bowl with plastic wrap, then let stand about 20 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel pepper, discarding stem and seeds, and transfer to a food processor or blender along with tomatoes.
• Unwrap garlic and squeeze roasted cloves from skin into food processor. Add remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste, then purée sauce until smooth.