Baked Rigatoni with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Create this Sunday dinner-worthy casserole made of garden-fresh sauce tossed with rigatoni (or penne, gemelli, or fusilli pasta) and draped with luscious melted cheese, all in well under an hour.

Baked Rigatoni

Ingredients

  • 1 kg (9 medium) roma tomatoes
  • 60 g (½ small) small onion, peeled
  • 125 g (1½ small) carrots, peeled, halved
  • 45 g (3 Tablespoons) tomato paste
  • Tablespoon (1 small) garlic clove, peeled
  • Tablespoon (¾ teaspoon) dried oregano
  • Tablespoon (1 teaspoon) dried basil
  • Tablespoon (1 teaspoon) fresh lemon juice
  • Tablespoon (1 teaspoon) brown sugar
  • Tablespoon (½ teaspoon) salt, optional
  • 455 g (1 pound) pasta, rigatoni or ziti, dried
  • 225 g (2 cups) Mozzarella cheese, shredded, or provolone

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Grease a 13x9-inch (33x23-cm) baking dish and set aside.
  2. Place tomatoes, onions, carrots, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, basil, lemon juice, brown sugar, and salt into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
  3. Select Hot Soup program, start the machine and allow the programmed cycle to complete. Or start the machine on its lowest speed, then increase to its highest speed and blend for 5 minutes and 45 seconds.
  4. While the sauce is blending, cook the rigatoni according to package instructions. Drain.
  5. Transfer the rigatoni to the prepared baking dish.
  6. Top with 4 cups (960 ml) warm tomato sauce and 2 cups of shredded cheese.
  7. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Ingredients

  • 1 kg (9 medium) roma tomatoes
  • 60 g (½ small) small onion, peeled
  • 125 g (1½ small) carrots, peeled, halved
  • 45 g (3 Tablespoons) tomato paste
  • Tablespoon (1 small) garlic clove, peeled
  • Tablespoon (¾ teaspoon) dried oregano
  • Tablespoon (1 teaspoon) dried basil
  • Tablespoon (1 teaspoon) fresh lemon juice
  • Tablespoon (1 teaspoon) brown sugar
  • Tablespoon (½ teaspoon) salt, optional
  • 455 g (1 pound) pasta, rigatoni or ziti, dried
  • 225 g (2 cups) Mozzarella cheese, shredded, or provolone

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Grease a 13x9-inch (33x23-cm) baking dish and set aside.
  2. Place tomatoes, onions, carrots, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, basil, lemon juice, brown sugar, and salt into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
  3. Select Hot Soup program, start the machine and allow the programmed cycle to complete. Or start the machine on its lowest speed, then increase to its highest speed and blend for 5 minutes and 45 seconds.
  4. While the sauce is blending, cook the rigatoni according to package instructions. Drain.
  5. Transfer the rigatoni to the prepared baking dish.
  6. Top with 4 cups (960 ml) warm tomato sauce and 2 cups of shredded cheese.
  7. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.