This delicious recipe is just one example of how you can use basil paste or pesto paste to quickly add flavor to your favorite dishes.
Pesto paste typically comes in a tube resembling a tube of toothpaste. It can usually be found in the fresh produce section of your local grocery store, near the fresh herbs. It may also be found in the pasta or Italian foods aisle. It is a great way to add a burst of fresh basil flavor to a quick-cooking meal like this one.
Ingredients:
8 oz. (uncooked) bowtie pasta
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 teaspoons pesto paste
1 teaspoon garlic paste
15 oz. ricotta cheese
1 cup milk
8 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil for the pasta. When the water is boiling, add a generous handful of salt and the pasta. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
While you are waiting for the pasta to cook, combine the tomato paste, pesto paste, garlic paste, ricotta cheese and milk in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth.
When the pasta is done, drain and add to the ricotta mixture. Toss to combine. Mix in the fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and half of the Parmesan cheese. Transfer the mixture to a buttered, 8-inch square baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese over the top and bake, covered, for 30 minutes.
* If you do not have pesto paste, or would prefer to use fresh basil, substitute 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves for the paste.
