Eye for a Recipe

This pasta recipe from America’s Test Kitchen is very tasty and uses only one pan. Cook tomatoes in a hot cast-iron skillet until blistered. Add garlic, tomato paste and hot pepper flakes and cook briefly. Lightly mash the tomatoes. Add uncooked pasta and water, cover and cook until the pasta is done, about 18 minutes. Stir in Parmesan and basil, sprinkle with mozzarella and broil until the cheese is brown and bubbly.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Simple brand tomato paste and mozzarella are free of additives. Check the hot pepper flakes to make sure they don’t contain colour or anti-caking agents. Genuine Parmesan has no additives; look for the name stamped on the rind.

Ingredients:

1 ½ pounds (680 g) grape tomatoes

1 tablespoon (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon (5 ml) tomato paste

¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) red pepper flakes

12 ounces (340 g) ziti

3 cups (750 ml) water, plus extra as needed

1 ounce (28 g/125 ml) Parmesan cheese, grated

¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh basil

4 ounces (113 g/250 ml) mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preparation:

Adjust oven rack 6 inches (15 cm) from broiler element and heat broiler. Heat 12-inch (30-cm) cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Toss tomatoes with oil and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt. Add tomatoes to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred and blistered, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic, tomato paste, and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Off heat, coarsely mash tomatoes using potato masher.

Stir in pasta and water and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to vigorous simmer, cover, and cook, stirring often, until pasta is tender, 15 to 18 minutes.

Stir in Parmesan and adjust sauce consistency with extra hot water as needed. Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Transfer skillet to oven and broil until cheese is melted and spotty brown, about 5 minutes. Serves 4.

From America’s Test Kitchen