Description

This Tomato & Mascarpone Pasta Bake is a comforting, creamy dish featuring roasted tomatoes blended into a rich mascarpone sauce, combined with penne pasta and topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, then grilled to golden perfection. It’s a delicious, hearty meal perfect for cozy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Roasted Tomatoes

1½ kg tomatoes, halved
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Sauce

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
300ml vegetable stock
4 tbsp mascarpone
Small bunch basil, chopped

Pasta & Topping

500g pack penne pasta
125g ball mozzarella, torn
50g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated

Instructions

Roast the Tomatoes: Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or gas mark 6. Arrange the halved tomatoes cut-side up in a roasting dish. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with dried oregano, and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 1 hour until the tomatoes are soft and caramelized.
Prepare the Sauce Base: While tomatoes roast, heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in crushed garlic and cook for an additional minute, releasing their aroma.
Simmer Sauce: Once the tomatoes are roasted, carefully tip them into the saucepan with the softened onion and garlic. Add the vegetable stock and simmer for 5 minutes to combine the flavors.
Add Mascarpone and Blend: Stir the mascarpone into the sauce mixture, then remove the pan from heat. Using a hand blender, blitz the sauce until smooth and creamy.
Cook the Pasta: Meanwhile, cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside in a colander.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: Season the smooth tomato sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the chopped fresh basil and then gently mix in the cooked pasta, ensuring the pasta is thoroughly coated with the sauce.
Assemble Bake: Transfer the pasta and sauce mixture into a large ovenproof dish. Scatter torn mozzarella and grated parmesan evenly over the top.
Grill the Pasta Bake: Preheat the grill to high. Place the ovenproof dish under the grill for a few minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, golden, and slightly crispy.
Serve: Remove from the grill and serve immediately while hot and gooey.

Notes

For a vegetarian option, use vegetarian-friendly parmesan cheese.
You can substitute penne with other pasta shapes like rigatoni or fusilli.
The balsamic vinegar adds a subtle sweetness to the roasted tomatoes but can be omitted if preferred.
Use fresh basil for best flavor; dried basil can be used if fresh is unavailable, but reduce the quantity.
This dish is best enjoyed freshly grilled to retain the cheesy topping’s texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Category: Pasta Bake
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: tomato pasta bake, mascarpone pasta, baked pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta bake, easy pasta dinner, roasted tomato pasta