Baked Pasta with Vegetables and Cheese

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make delicious baked pasta with vegetables? Gather all the ingredients on the list. You can use regular tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes; if they're large, cut them into halves or quarters before cooking. I used a red onion to give the finished dish a brighter color.

2. Step 2:

   

   Peel the onion and break the garlic into cloves (no need to peel them). Rinse the cherry tomatoes, onion, and garlic cloves under cold running water, then pat everything dry with paper towels. Slice the onion into half-moons or thin wedges. Add the tomatoes, onion, and garlic to a baking dish, spreading them evenly over the bottom.

3. Step 3:

   

   Wash the bell pepper, cut it in half, and remove the seeds and core. Slice it the same way as the onion and add it to the vegetables in the dish.

4. Step 4:

   

   Drain the brine from the cheese. Set the block of cheese in the center of the heatproof dish, nestled among the vegetables.

5. Step 5:

   

   Sprinkle your favorite spices and ground pepper over the top. I used a blend of herbes de Provence, dried oregano, allspice, and sweet paprika. Drizzle olive oil (or any vegetable oil) over everything.

6. Step 6:

   

   Place the dish in a preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes at 350–425°F (180–220°C), using top and bottom heat. The exact temperature and time may vary with your oven, so watch for the cheese to turn golden and crusty and the vegetables to cook through completely.

7. Step 7:

   

   While the cheese and vegetables bake, cook the pasta in lightly salted water until al dente.

8. Step 8:

   

   Take the dish out of the oven. Using two forks, break up the cheese and mix it with the tomatoes. Don't overmix, or the tomatoes will turn to mush and the dish won't look as nice.

9. Step 9:

   

   Add the cooked pasta to the cheese and tomatoes.

10. Step 10:

    

    Toss to combine and sprinkle with fresh herbs.

11. Step 11:

    

    Serve hot.