Baked Penne With Eggplant And Fontina Recipes

BAKED PENNE WITH EGGPLANT AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Halve each tomato crosswise, then squeeze or scoop out the seeds into a strainer set over a bowl to catch the juices. Dice the tomatoes. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large soup pot or dutch oven over a medium flame. When it shimmers, add the onion and saute, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 10-15 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano, chile flakes, and salt, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 2 more minutes. Add the diced tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until broken down and reduced to a thick sauce, about 30 minutes. You may need to reduce the flame to prevent splatters. Add splashes of wine or water if the pan looks dry before the tomatoes have broken down.
• When the sauce is done, let it cool slightly, then pass it through a food mill to puree it smooth and remove the skins.
• While the sauce is cooking, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400º. Toss together the eggplant, olive oil and salt, and place on an oiled baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until the eggplant is very soft and golden, 20-25 minutes, flipping the slices over when the bottoms begin to brown. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 375ºWhen the eggplant is cool, cut each round into bite-sized pieces.
• Cook the penne according to the package instructions in well-salted water until al dente. Drain well. (If you're not baking the pasta right away, rinse it in cool water, drain well, and toss with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.)
• In a large bowl, toss together the penne, sauce, eggplant, basil, parsley, olives, fontina and provolone. Taste for seasoning, adding salt or pepper if you like, then spread the pasta in an oiled 2 1/2-3 quart baking dish (such as a 9x13" lasagna pan). Cover with a good layer of freshly-grated parmesan.
• Cover the dish with a lid or foil, and bake until the pasta is hot and the cheese is melty and gooey, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately, topped with more parmesan and small basil leaves.
• Leftovers will keep for several days, tightly covered, in the fridge. Reheat before eating.

CREAMY BAKED PENNE WITH CHICKEN, SPINACH, AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until the golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of the tomatoes, the heavy cream and 3/4 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the ricotta and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook the penne in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and add it to a large bowl.
• Add the tomato sauce, spinach, rotisserie chicken, half of the fontina and pecorino and all of the basil to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the remaining fontina and pecorino. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

BAKED PENNE WITH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, and add 2 tablespoons salt.
• Meanwhile, in a 10 to 12 inch sauté pan, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Working in batches, sauté the eggplant slices, seasoning them with salt and pepper, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F Grease a 9 by 12 inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
• Cook the penne in the boiling water for 2 minutes short of the package instructions; it should still be quite firm. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain very well, place in a large bowl, and toss with 1 cup of the tomato sauce.
• Cover the bottom of the baking dish with ¼ cup of the tomato sauce. Top with half the bread crumbs, then add half the pasta. Arrange half of the eggplant slices, overlapping them slightly, on top of the pasta. Dot about ¼ cup of tomato sauce over the eggplant, and top with half of the pecorino and half of the basil. Top with the remaining pasta, arrange the remaining eggplant over the pasta, and dot with the remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining pecorino and basil, and then the remaining bread crumbs, and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

BAKED PENNE WITH FONTINA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x12-inch baking dish with nonfat cooking spray. Set aside.
• Put on a large pot of water to boil for the pasta.
• Toast the pine nuts in a large skillet over medium heat. When pine nuts are golden brown, add olive oil, garlic, salt, and red chile pepper flakes. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes (break up with a spoon) and oregano. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until sauce thickens.
• While sauce is simmering, cook pasta to according to package directions for "firm". Drain and pour pasta into prepared baking dish. Stir in butter to coat. Add sauce and Parmesan cheese and stir well. Top with Fontina cheese and parsley and place in oven.
• Cook, uncovered, for 8 to 9 minutes or until cheese melts.

PASTA ALLA NORMA (BAKED PENNE WITH EGGPLANT)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• Add the penne and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes less than the instructions on the package. Strain the pasta and rinse under cold water until cool.
• Put the pasta in a large bowl and toss with 1 cup of the pasta sauce.
• Meanwhile, in a 12 inch sauté pan, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat until almost smoking.
• Working in batches, sauté the eggplant slices, seasoning them with salt and pepper, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.
• Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil (I used cooking spray).
• Cover the bottom of the baking dish with 1/4 cup of the tomato sauce.
• Top with half the bread crumbs, then add half the pasta. Arrange half of the eggplant slices, overlapping them slightly, on top of the pasta.
• Dot about 1/4 cup of tomato sauce over the eggplant, and top with half of the pecorino and half of the basil.
• Top with the remaining pasta, arrange the remaining eggplant over the pasta, and dot with the remaining tomato sauce.
• Sprinkle with the remaining pecorino and basil, and then the remaining bread crumbs, and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Bake for 45 minutes then let stand for 10 minutes.
• Grate ricotta salata (provolone or pecorino work too!) over individual portions before serving.