Tomato, Basil And Cheese Baked Pasta

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 lb small shell pasta
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 large garlic cloves
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed italian tomatoes
• fresh basil leaf, torn into small pieces
• salt
• pepper
• 1 cup store bought basil pesto
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• 1/2 lb fresh mozzarella cheese

Recipe

• 1 bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water. add small shell pasta and cook the pasta to al dente doneness which means that the pasta will still have a bite to it or be a little chewy. cook probably 9-10 minutes.
• 2 preheat a deep, big skillet or a medium sauce pot over medium heat.
• 3 place garlic on the cutting board and place the flat of your knife on top of each clove. carefully give the garlic a whack with the palm of your hand to seperate the cloves from the skins. throw out the skins and chop up the garlic.
• 4 add evoo to the pan by pouring a slow stream of it twice-around-the-pan. do not let the oil pour out too fast. add the garlic to the oil.
• 5 chop onion finely. add to garlic and oil. cook, stirring frequently, five minutes or until onions are tender.
• 6 add the tomatoes to the onions and stir. when the tomatoes come to a bubble, reduce the heat under the sauce to low.
• 7 stir in basil pieces to wilt them. season the sauce with salt and pepper to your taste.
• 8 preheat your broiler to high and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• 9 drain pasta shells. add them to a casserole dish.
• 10 add pesto sauce, 1 cup ricotta cheese and a handful of grated parmigiano.
• 11 stir carefully and coat the hot pasta with the pesto and cheeses.
• 12 pour the hot tomato and basil sauce over the pasta.
• 13 shred up mozzarella and scatter over the pasta. add a final sprinkle of parimigiano to the mozarella as well.
• 14 place the casserole under the broiler in the middle of oven, 10-12 inches from the heat. let the cheese melt and bubble on top (3-5 minutes).