It’s been awhile since my last menu, admittedly because I’ve been so busy, I haven’t had a chance to cook! So here is my most recent delish dish, to be completed with a Ceasar salad. If you’re new to the menu series in the food blog, the goal is to give one complete menu, that can be fixed during a week night. If you do the prep work the night before, putting the meal together shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes!
Pasta Pomodoro is a perfect summer dish because it is made with fresh ingredients and is intended to be a light dish. It is generally served with angel hair pasta although I suppose anything would really work. Keep in mind though.
The Night Before. . .
Chop half of an onion and leave in the refrigerator in a sealed container. If you use fresh garlic, mince 4 cloves. In the final dish, you’re going to sautee them together so there’s no reason you can’t store them together.
You will also need to chop up 4 cups of roma tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of fresh basil.
Note: You can of course substitute fresh ingredients for non-fresh ones, but it will make all the difference in the texture and taste of the dish.
You will also need to slice cheeses the night before. You need 12 slices, approximately 1/4″ inch thick of both cheddar and moterrey cheeses. Mozzarella or Provolone can also work well.
When You Get Home from Work. . .
Cook 2 packages of angel hair pasta until almost done or al dente. Meanwhile, in a large sauce pan, heat 1/4 cup of olive oil over high heat. Add onion and garlic and sautee until clear. Reduce heat to medium high and add the chopped tomatoes, 1 can of chicken broth, and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Simmer for about 8 minutes.
While the sauce is simmering, take one long baguette and make 12 cuts being careful not to cut entirely through. Transfer to a large sheet of aluminum foil and spread each open side with butter and garlic salt to taste, Then, in each cut, insert one slice of cheddar cheese and one slice of Monterrey cheese. Wrap the baguette in foil and place in the oven at 350 degrees.
Hopefully by now, the sauce is done simmering and you can add the fresh basil, as well as some crushed red pepper or salt and black pepper to taste. Also add the pasta and simmer for 5 more minutes!
The bread will take about 10 minutes to be done and you’ll know it’s done when the cheese is melted.
Add a Ceasar salad for a complete meal.