Recipes

Recipe: Gratin de pâtes

Recipe: Gratin de pâtes

This baked pasta dish with fresh tomatoes is perfect for a summer party! Author: Beatrice Peltre

Recipes

Recipe: Gratin de pâtes

Use fresh summer tomatoes for this tasty basked pasta dish from Béatrice Peltre's cookbook My French Family Table. 

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Ingredients

  • 2 slices toasted bread
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan, divided
  • 12 oz rigatoni pasta
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1/4 red onion, chopped
  • 3 sprigs fresh oregano
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 carrot, peeled and grated
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1 lb tomatoes, diced, plus 1 tomato, sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 tsp brown sugar
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • 3 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 4 1/2 oz mozzarella cheese, diced
  • Ground nutmeg to finish 

Directions

1 Place the toast and parsley in the bowl of a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Transfer to a bowl and combine with 1/4 cup of the Parmesan; set aside.

2 Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

3 Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush the baking dish with olive oil; set aside.

4 In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, oregano and thyme; cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, without browning. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the carrot and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute. Add the wine and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, bay leaf and brown sugar and season with salt and pepper; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the sauce is slightly reduced. Discard the oregano, thyme and bay leaf.

5 Transfer the sauce to the bowl of a food processor, add the ricotta and purée until smooth.

6 In a large bowl, toss the pasta with the sauce, basil, pine nuts and remaining Parmesan.

7 Transfer to the prepared baking dish, scatter with the mozzarella and sliced tomato and top with the breadcrumb mixture; add a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle with the nutmeg.

8 Bake the gratin for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden and crispy.

9 Serve immediately.

Serves: 6

 


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Excerpted from My French Family Table by Béatrice Peltre. Recipes Copyright © 2016 Béatrice Peltre, Photography copyright © 2016 Béatrice Peltre. Excerpted by permission of Roost Books. All rights reserved.

 

 

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Recipes

Recipe: Gratin de pâtes