Macaroni Cheese With Tomato And Basil Recipes

TOMATO BASIL MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions until barely al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Place racks in the center and upper third of your oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 inch casserole dish or similar 3 to 3 1/2 quart dish with nonstick spray.
• While the pasta cooks: In a Dutch oven or similar large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the onion and cook until the onion is fragrant and beginning to soften but is not yet brown, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, the sprinkle the flour over the top. With a whisk, stir continually until the flour turns golden brown and the white bits disappear, about 1 minute. The flour will be lumpy at first, but will smooth out as you continue with the recipe.
• Pour in the milk a few splashes at a time, whisking constantly to break up any lumps. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat and stir the salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Let the mixture cool for 1 minute, then stir in the Greek yogurt and melty cheese. Add the drained pasta and half of the sliced basil. With a large spoon or spatula, stir and fold gently to combine the ingredients and coat each piece of the pasta with the sauce. Taste and add additional salt, pepper or cayenne pepper to taste.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish. Sprinkle the parmesan over the top. Arrange the sliced tomato on top, overlapping slightly if needed. Bake on the center rack until hot and bubbly, 15-20 minutes. If you'd like a crispy top, turn the oven to broil and transfer the dish to the upper rack. Broil for 2-3 minutes, until the top if as dark golden and crispy as you like, watching it carefully so that it doesn't burn. Let rest for 5 minutes, the sprinkle on remaining basil and serve hot.
• Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat individual servings gently in the microwave with a splash of milk to keep them from drying out, stirring periodically.

TOMATO, BASIL AND CHEESE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• 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. The pasta will soak up more juice and keep on cooking after we drain it, so we need it to be a little under cooked. The shells will probably cook about 9 or 10 minutes.
• Preheat a deep, big skillet or a medium sauce pot over medium heat.
• 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 separate the cloves from the skins. Throw out the skins and chop up the garlic. Remember to keep your fingers curled under and the edge of your sharp, chef's knife tilted slightly away from your body.
• Add extra-virgin olive oil to the pan by pouring a slow stream of it twice-around-the-pan. This will be about 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil just enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Do not let the oil pour out too fast. You are looking for a slow, steady stream. Add the garlic to the oil. To chop the onion, cut the ends off and cut the whole onion down the center. Wrap half and save it. Cut the other half into thin slices then twist the slices a quarter turn and chop them again. Hold the tip of knife on the cutting board and lift the back of the knife up and down over the onion to make the pieces really small. Add the chopped up onion to the garlic and oil. Cook, stirring a lot, 5 minutes until the onions are mushy and look cooked.
• Add the tomatoes to the onions and stir. When the tomatoes come to a bubble, reduce the heat under the sauce to low. Stir in basil pieces to wilt them. Season the sauce with salt and peppe, to your taste.
• Preheat your broiler to high and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• Drain pasta shells. Add them to a flameproof casserole dish. Add pesto sauce, 1 cup of ricotta cheese and a handful of grated Parmigiano, too. Stir carefully and coat the hot pasta with the pesto and cheeses. Pour the hot tomato and basil sauce over the pasta, as much as you like. You can always serve a little extra at the table, to pass around. Shred up some mozzarella cheese with a grater and scatter it over the pasta. Add a final sprinkle of Parmigiano to the mozzarella as well. Place the casserole under the broiler in the middle of oven, 10 to 12 inches from the heat. Let the cheese melt and bubble on top, 3 to 5 minutes.

MAC AND CHEESE WITH CHICKEN, TOMATO AND BASIL

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a large baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running water.
• 2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, until blended and pale yellow. Whisk in the milk, then season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring until thickened and smooth. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the Asiago and 1 cup Parmesan.
• 3. Combine the macaroni, sauce, tomatoes, and basil in a large bowl. Add the chicken and stir until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into the baking dish.
• 4. Mix the panko with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan, parsley, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until heated through and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

MACARONI CHEESE WITH TOMATO AND BASIL

Steps:

• Cook the macaroni until done and drain.
• Combine cheeses, salt, pepper, cream and eggs in a bowl.
• Stir in macaroni and spread half of this mixture in a greased casserole dish.
• Arrange tomato slices and basil over this layer and top with remaining macaroni.
• Melt the butter in a frying pan and cook the breadcrumbs gently until golden.
• Combine breadcrumbs and cheese and sprinkle over the top.
• Bake at 180°C for 15-20 minutes until it's golden on top.

SPAGHETTI WITH FRESH TOMATO AND BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Blanch the tomatoes and remove the skins. Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Cut the tomatoes crosswise. Set aside in a bowl.
• Heat 3 ounces olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until it smokes slightly. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Since the tomatoes will reduce and the salt will be concentrated, it is better to season initially with a lighter hand.
• Chop the tomatoes with a potato masher until they are in fine chunks and all their liquid is released. Be sure they are chopped and crushed fine, for a semichunky sauce. Simmer for 25 minutes over medium heat.
• While the sauce simmers, heat the water for the pasta. Cook the spaghetti in salted water about half of the way cooked. Drain, reserving some of the water.
• Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add the pasta to the sauce and cook over medium-high heat until all the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is al dente. If the sauce is over-reduced, use the pasta cooking liquid to adjust it.
• At the last moment, remove the pan from the heat; add the extra-virgin olive oil, butter, basil and cheese. Mix thoroughly until the pasta is an orangy color. Taste again and adjust the salt if necessary. Remove to a platter. Serve.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH STEWED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook macaroni according to package directions and drain, rinse and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, heat the 3 cups of milk, butter, salt and pepper until hot but not boiling.
• In a small bowl or cup, combine 1/4 cup of milk with the cornstarch and stir until dissolved.
• Slowly add this to the hot milk mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk.
• When mixture has thickened, remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of the cheese until melted.
• Pour pasta into a large mixing bowl and add the cheese mixture and the stewed tomatoes.
• Mix well until macaroni is well coated.
• Pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish or 3 quart casserole and top with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 35 to 45, or until golden brown.

TOMATO BASIL PASTA

Steps:

• Stir tomatoes, onion, olive oil, garlic, and basil together in a bowl.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook fusilli in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, 12 minutes. Drain.
• Toss warm pasta with feta cheese and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. Stir tomato mixture into pasta and season with salt and pepper.

CHEESE AND TOMATO MACARONI

Steps:

• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain and transfer pasta to a large baking dish.
• Heat vegetable oil and flour in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until mixture is frothy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add reserved tomato juice and garlic paste. Cook and stir until mixture is thickened and stir in chopped tomatoes and about 3/4 the Cheddar cheese. Simmer until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes more. Stir water into tomato sauce if mixture becomes too thick.
• Pour tomato sauce over macaroni and top with remaining Cheddar cheese and sliced tomato.
• Broil in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and browned, about 5 minutes.

TOMATO MAC 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add the milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Reduce heat to medium. Stir in the cheese, salt, mustard and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese is melted. Drain pasta; stir into cheese sauce. Cook and stir for 3 minutes or until heated through. Stir in tomatoes just until combined.

PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO, BASIL AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, combine all remaining ingredients except cheese.
• Drain pasta; place in large bowl. Add tomato mixture and cheese; mix lightly.