Cooking Therapy

What can be a more comforting meal than a big, saucy, CHEESY, plate of pasta. In this dish, I am showing you how to make a delicious tangy tomato sauce from scratch that will make any Italian nona proud. The dish is baked and the cheese becomes this beautiful, gooey, stringy companion to the sauce. This is a big hearty meal that should be enjoyed with a nap afterwards. Try yours today!

Baked Tortellini

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 package tortellini
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 plump Roma or plum tomatoes diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon pesto
• 2 tablespoons roasted red pepper paste
• ¼ cup chopped parsley
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella ball sliced ¼ inch thick or crumbled, based on your preference
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese or pecorino romano

Method

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Cook the tortellini to package instructions and strain. Set aside until it is time to bake
3. Time to make the sauce!
4. In a medium saucepan, sauté the garlic in olive oil until it becomes fragrant. Then add the diced tomatoes and continue to sauté until both the tomatoes and garlic soften
5. Add the can of diced tomatoes and stir
6. Add the salt, pepper, red chili flakes, and sugar and stir until they are blended into the sauce. Bring to boil, and then lower the heat to bring to a simmer. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes
7. Add the pesto and roasted red pepper paste and stir until it is blended. Then add the parsley and stir one last time. Shut the heat off and set the sauce aside.
8. In a baking pan or dish, cover the base with a thin layer of sauce. Add half the tortellini amount and cover with sauce. Sprinkle some of the grated parmesan or pecorino romano across the sauce covered tortellini. Evenly place mozzarella slices across the top of the tortellini. Cover with sauce again and sprinkle more of the grated cheese
9. 

   

   
10. Add the remaining tortellini and repeat the sauce and cheese cover process
11. Place in the oven and cook for 35 minutes or until the cheese has become golden brown and the sauce is bubbling
12. Let it cool for 5 minutes
13. Serve and enjoy!