Pasta Baked With Olives Vegetables And Mozzarella Recipes

ROASTED VEGGIE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Spread the onion, summer squash, zucchini, eggplant, and red bell pepper out onto two baking sheets with rims; drizzle vegetables with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
• Roast the vegetables in the preheated oven until soft and starting to brown, 20 to 25 minutes; stir and turn over vegetables after about 10 minutes of baking. Decrease oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• While vegetables are roasting, fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the penne, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Grease a 2-quart casserole dish. In a saucepan, mix together the Alfredo sauce with chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Pour the sauce mixture into a large bowl, and stir in the roasted vegetables, penne pasta, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese until thoroughly combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared casserole dish; sprinkle top evenly with breadcrumbs. Cover the dish.
• Bake in the hot oven until mixture is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove cover, and sprinkle top of casserole with remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheeses; return to oven, and bake until the top is lightly browned and the cheese has melted, 5 to 10 more minutes.

EASY VEGETABLE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have an oven-safe 12-inch deep skillet, you can cook the veggies and bake the pasta in it. If you do not, prepare a 3-quart baking dish by lightly greasing with olive oil.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and then cook the pasta. Check the package for cook time, but cook the pasta two minutes less than what is recommend on the box (it will continue to cook in the oven). Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Slice the onions and bell peppers into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Using a damp paper towel, brush all dirt from mushrooms. Cut away and discard any hard stems. Chop into 1/4-inch slices or, if there are larger mushrooms like portobello, cut into 1/4-inch cubes.
• Heat a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil then add the mushrooms, in one layer, and cook until browned on one side, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir then add the onions and peppers. Cook another 3 to 5 minutes or until the veggies are starting to soften and have some browned edges. Season to taste with salt and black pepper (I usually add 1/4 teaspoon of each).
• Stir the fennel, marinara sauce, and basil into the vegetables. If your skillet is large enough, toss in the pasta and if the mixture seems dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water. If the skillet is too small, combine the sauce and pasta in a bowl. Adjust with pasta water, and then add to a baking dish.
• Taste the pasta and adjust with more salt and pepper. Tuck spoonfuls of ricotta around the pasta, and then top with the mozzarella cheese. Bake the pasta, uncovered, until the cheese melts and is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.

PASTA BAKED WITH OLIVES, VEGETABLES AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly grease a shallow baking dish with olive oil.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, add the zucchini and cook over med-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini begin to brown; season with salt and peper.
• Set aside to cool.
• Cook the pasta al dente.
• Drain, rinse with cold water, drain again, then toss with the zucchini.
• Add the olives, tomatoes and half the cheeses to the pasta.
• Toss well and pour into the baking dish.
• Spread the remaining mozzarella on top, reserving the rest of the parmesan for garnish.
• Bake the pasta until the cheese is melted and the pasta is heated through (about 15-20 minutes).
• Serve with the remaining cheese.

BAKED WHOLE WHEAT PASTA WITH SPINACH AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Almonds -- In a medium dry saute pan on medium high heat, add the almonds and cook a couple of minutes until they get golden brown. Keep an eye of them, they do not take long.
• Fresh Bread Crumbs -- If you are using dry bread crumbs, skip this step.
• Chop up the bread fairly fine. Then in that same saute pan you used to toast your almonds in, bring to medium high heat and add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Toss in the bread crumbs, seasoning and toast until golden brown. They only take 1-2 minutes and stir often.
• Pasta -- Cook the pasta according to package direction in salted boiling water. Drain well, return to the pot and toss with the olive oil and set to the side off the heat. As the pasta cooks, saute your vegetables.
• Vegetables -- Once again, use that same saute pan and add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and heat to medium medium/high heat. Add the garlic, onion and little salt and pepper and saute 2-3 minutes, then toss in the spinach and saute just a few seconds until the spinach is slightly wilted. Don't cook more than just a few seconds. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 of the lemon zest and 1 cup of the almonds. Add to the pasta along with the chicken broth. Check for seasoning, salt and pepper. Personally, I like to add some extra pepper.
• Bake -- In a 13x9 or similar size baking dish, sprayed with Pam or any non-stick spray, add the remaining lemon zest. Then add 1/2 of the pasta, 1/2 the cheese; then the rest of the pasta, and the rest of the cheese. Sprinkle with the almonds, and then top with the bread crumbs and cover with foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes until the bread crumbs get golden brown.
• Serve -- ENJOY! I like to keep it a bit healthy and serve with a bowl of tomato soup and a baguette with melted cheese.

PASTA SPIRALS WITH SAUTEED VEGETABLES, OLIVES AND SMOKED MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add scallions and garlic and saute 1 minute. Add carrots and broccoli and saute 5 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Add 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper and stir to coat. Add broth, tomatoes, snow peas, and mushrooms and bring to a simmer. Pour sauce over cooked pasta and toss to combine. Top with olives and smoked mozzarella cheese just before serving.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add mushrooms and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until tender. Stir in thyme and cook 1 minute to heat through. Season with salt and black pepper.