Cast Iron Baked Ziti with Charred Tomatoes
Skillet recipes are one of my favorite quick dinners. A cast iron skillet is perfect to char tomatoes that makes a simple yet flavorful sauce. The pasta is cooked right in the skillet then topped with Mozzarella cheese and quickly broiled for a cheesy melted finish. Dinner is ready in no time at all!
Servings 4
Calories 502kcal
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet or a stainless steel skillet; non-stick skillet is not recommeded
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds grape tomatoes I used cherry tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning my addition
- 12 ounces ziti pasta 3 3/4 cups
- 3 cups water plus extra as needed
- 1 ounce Parmesan cheese grated (1/2 cup)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded (1 cup) (I doubled it)
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler.
- Heat 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Toss tomatoes with oil and 1 teaspoon 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.
- To the skillet, 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.
- 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. Serve.
Notes
Recipe source: America's Test Kitchen "Cook It In Cast Iron"
Nutrition
Calories: 502kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 329mg | Potassium: 677mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1825IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 299mg | Iron: 2mg