Shelly's Recipe

BAKED PASTA ALLA PIZZAIOLA

Category: Pasta - Baked

Sauce and pasta:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 large cloves garlic, crushed
28-oz crushed Italian tomatoes
15-oz diced tomatoes
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil or 1/2 tsp dried
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried oregano
Freshly ground pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to taste
1 lb dried pasta, such as orecchiette, cavatappi, campanelle or rigatoni Add-ins (choose two or more):
2 cups cooked, crumbled Italian sausage
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup grilled vegetables, such as eggplant and zucchini, chopped
1/2 cup each: diced prosciutto; squeeze-dried, thawed, frozen chopped spinach; chopped mixed olives; sliced mushrooms

Cheeses:
1/2 lb fresh mozzarella, diced
2 cups shredded mozzarella
4 tbsp shredded Parmesan
Chopped fresh parsley, optional

Heat oil in pan, add onion; cook 3 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, basil, salt, oregano and peppers. Simmer 10 minutes.

Cook pasta. Drain; rinse under cool water. Shake off excess water.

Heat oven to 400. Grease 13x9-inch glass baking dish. Toss pasta with sauce. Put into baking dish; top with add-ins. Sprinkle with fresh mozzarella; mix gently. Sprinkle with shredded cheeses. Bake 25 minutes. Top with parsley. Serves 4