Penne Alla Pizza- from Baby Center

Penne Alla Pizza


Added by: Marcia Smart

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Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 83 minutes

Total time: 98 minutes



This easy pizza-inspired pasta, similar to lasagna, is adapted from Bugialli on Pasta, by Giuliano Bugialli (Simon & Schuster, 1988).





Ingredients

1 medium celery stalk, diced

1/2 medium red onion, diced

1 large clove garlic, minced

2 medium carrots, diced

20 large basil leaves

2 pounds fresh Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped (or a 2-pound can of seasoned tomatoes, drained)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound regular or multigrain penne

Olive oil cooking spray

8 ounces low-fat mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

1 teaspoon dried oregano

30 Gaeta or Kalamata olives, drained and pitted

Salt, pepper, and Parmesan to taste

Preparations

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine celery, red onion, garlic, carrots, five sliced basil leaves, tomatoes, and olive oil in a saucepan. Cover and cook over low heat for an hour, stirring occasionally. Adjust salt and pepper. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook penne according to package instructions, minus one minute, so pasta is slightly undercooked. Drain. Coat a 13-by-9-inch pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine penne, tomato sauce, mozzarella, oregano, olives, remaining basil leaves (shredded or torn), and salt and pepper to taste. Gently mix ingredients and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 15 minutes, covered with foil. Serve hot directly from pan. (Makes 6 to 8 servings)