This blog post is sponsored by Barilla® but all opinions are my own.
My parents recently moved to Texas for a change of pace and to spend more time with their grandkids. After living away from them for over five years this has been a real treat for our family. We’ve missed them and are so happy they now call Texas home.
One of the things we’re really looking forward to, are family dinners and impromptu lunches. My mom and I used to have a tradition of having lunch together at least once a week where we would catch up, and enjoy each other’s company. It was such a nice time for us that we knew we wanted to pick it right back up.
Last week mom came by for a quiet lunch and it was as if no time had passed at all. We got a chance to catch up and I made her a scrumptious pasta bake with Barilla® Chickpea Rotini that I’m going to share with you today!
I made a Creamy Cherry Tomato-Anchovie Basil Pasta Bake that turned out exquisite. The highlight of the dish was Barilla® Chickpea pasta. It’s certified gluten-free, non-GMO Project Verified, and made with one simple ingredient – chickpeas! I love this pasta because it’s a nutritious way to add variety to my meals, it has a fabulous flavor, provides 19g of protein per 3.5oz serving and it’s an excellent source of fiber.
I always like to make a simple dish that’s dressed up and elevated to make a simple afternoon a bit more special.
The dish starts off with peeled tomatoes, garlic and onion simmered down with herbs and anchovies. The sauce is simmered down to perfection and tossed with the best Barilla® Chickpea pasta. Then it’s all tossed with more cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and baked until creamy and decadent. I top everything off with parmesan cheese and freshly chopped basil!
This recipe is so simple but the texture of the Barilla® Chickpea pasta and the briny anchovies create something super special. You can pick up the Barilla® Chickpea pasta at your local retailer, in the pasta aisle!
CREAMY CHERRY TOMATO-ANCHOVIE BASIL PASTA BAKE
Ingredients
- 1 box of Barilla® Chickpea pasta
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 1/4 medium white onion – diced
- 3 cloves of garlic – minced
- 2 cups of cherry tomatoes – chopped
- 1/4 cup of chicken or vegetable broth
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tbs butter
- 3.5 oz of anchovies fillets – or more if you’re into that!
- 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella
- 3 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 bunch of chopped basil
Instructions
- Cook the Barilla® Chickpea pasta according to the box’s instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- In a deep pan heat the olive oil to medium-high heat
- Add the onions, 1 cup of the tomatoes, and cook until the onion is translucent
- Add the garlic, a pinch of salt, and pepper, and cook for 1 minute
- Add the broth and butter and cook until combined
- Toss in the cooked pasta, the rest of the tomatoes, 1 tbs of the basil, Mozzarella, and 2 tbs of the parmesan cheese – toss to combine
- Pour onto a small baking dish
- Top with the rest of the cheese and bake for 15 minutes
- After the 15 minutes have passed, turn the broiler on for another 5 minutes (watch it carefully)
- Pull out of the oven and top with the rest of the parmesan cheese and fresh basil
- Enjoy!
This is a fun dish to make to feed a crowd and it can be whipped up in just a few minutes. The anchovies really elevate the dish and it all comes together in little time. Here’s to more impromptu lunches with mom and to humble ingredients coming together to create something really special.
