Easy cheese and tomato pasta bake
User Reviews
4.6
Easy cheese and tomato pasta bake
Description
Easy cheese and tomato pasta bake combines a simmered sauce of cherry tomatoes, red onion, garlic, fresh rosemary and thyme, Italian herbs, and optional smoked paprika and chili flakes for depth and mild heat. Balsamic vinegar and a touch of sugar balance the acidity, while vegetable stock keeps the sauce moist. Short pasta is cooked until al dente and mixed into the sauce. The mixture is layered with grated mozzarella and cheddar cheese in a baking dish and baked until the top forms a golden crust. After baking, the dish rests briefly to allow the flavors to settle and the cheese to firm slightly before serving.
The result is a rich, tangy, and cheesy pasta bake with tender pasta and pockets of melted cheese. Fresh basil added at serving brightens the dish. This bake works well as a comforting vegetarian entrée or alongside a green salad for a filling meal.
Ingredients
for the tomato sauce
- 2 x 400g (14 oz) cherry tomatoes canned
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic thinly sliced, cloves
- 1 rosemary fresh sprig
- 2 thyme sprigs, fresh
- 1 teaspoon italian herbs
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika optional
- pinch chili flakes optional
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons sugar to taste (optional)
- ½ cup vegetable stock or red wine
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
for the pasta bake
- 500 g (1lb) short pasta of your choice (e.g., penne
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- basil to serve, fresh
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF.
- Fry the onion and garlic in a splash of olive oil until soft and translucent.
- Add the tomatoes, herbs, spices, Balsamic, sugar and stock/wine and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes while the pasta cooks. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta's cooking water.
- When the pasta is cooked and the sauce is reduced, combine and mix well. Add some of the cooking water saved from the pasta to loosen the pasta and sauce a bit.
- Transfer half the pasta mix to a baking dish, add half of the cheese. Repeat with the remaining pasta and cheese.
- Place the pasta in the pre-heated oven and allow to bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese on top is golden brown.
- Remove and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving with fresh basil.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 401 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 401kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 57g | 19% |
| Protein | 31g | 62% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 16mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 337mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 358mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 13g | 52% |
| Sugar | 13g | 26% |
| Vitamin A | 880IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 33mg | 37% |
| Calcium | 311mg | 31% |
| Iron | 9mg | 50% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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