A big bowl of cheesy pasta is the ultimate comfort food, and there’s a simple way to transform it into a delicious bake for a hearty dinner. Jamie Oliver’s baked tomato cheese pasta bake may sound simple, but it’s a mouthwatering and authentic Italian recipe that’s popular to enjoy at the weekends. On his website, Jamie shared that this pasta dish is beloved throughout Italy. It’s enjoyed by families at gatherings and celebrations, and even the monks at the Abbazia di Farfa, just outside Rome, savor it every Sunday as a special lunch. However, this tasty dinner can be enjoyed any time of the week as a quick and easy meal, perfect for a family or a large group. It only takes around 10 minutes to prepare before letting the sauce simmer for 20 minutes, then just pop it in the oven for a mere 15 minutes to cook.
Here’s how to create an Italian pasta bake masterpiece:
Ingredients:
* 1.5kg of tomatoes or three (400g each) tins of plum tomatoes
* 400g of pasta (preferably orecchiette)
* One or two dried red chillies
* Two garlic cloves (finely sliced)
* Three mozzarella balls
* One white onion (chopped)
* One large handful of fresh basil leaves
* Four big handfuls of parmesan cheese (grated)
* One tablespoon of red wine vinegar (optional)
* Extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
For the sauce:
1. Preheat the oven to 200C (400F) and heat a couple of lugs of olive oil in a frying pan.
2. Add the onions, garlic, and chillies to the pan and slowly fry for about 10 minutes on medium heat until softened but not crispy or brown.
3. If using fresh tomatoes, boil a large pot of salted water. Remove the core of the tomatoes with a knife and add them to the boiling water for about 40 seconds until their skin starts to peel away. Then, remove them with a slotted spoon.
4. Add your fresh or canned tomatoes to the frying pan along with a small glass of water. Bring to a boil and let the sauce simmer for around 20 minutes.
5. Once the time is up, blend everything with a food processor or hand blender to create a smooth sauce.
6. Tear the basil leaves into the sauce, then season with salt, pepper, and red wine vinegar if desired.
For the pasta bake:
1. When the sauce is ready, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook according to the package instructions.
2. Drain the pasta and toss half of it with the tomato sauce and a handful of parmesan cheese.
3. In an oven dish, add a little olive oil. Layer the pasta with some tomato sauce, a handful of parmesan cheese, and one sliced mozzarella ball.
4. Repeat these layers until all the ingredients are used, but for the final layer, add a generous sprinkling of grated cheese on top.
5. Place in the oven for 15 minutes, or until golden, crisp, and bubbling. Then, remove from the oven and your delicious pasta bake is ready to serve.
