Anyone can cook pasta

I love Pixar- their films always fill me with warmth and calm my racing brain. One of my favs has to be Ratatouille- I have adopted its "Anyone can cook" mantra into my own studio as "Anyone can sing." This is a ratatouille- inspired pasta (with cheese- because rats and mice love cheese, and so do I!).

Ingredients:

6 oz pkg cavatappi

1 zucchini, sliced

1 bell pepper, sliced

14 1⁄2 oz can whole peeled tomatoes

1 ounce parm, freshly grated

1 bunch basil, chopped

4 ounces ricotta

Method:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta to boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve 1⁄4 cup cooking water; drain pasta and return to pot off heat. Cover to keep warm until needed.

On a rimmed baking sheet, toss zucchini and peppers with 2 tablespoons oil and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Broil on upper oven rack until charred and tender, 5–8 minutes

Roughly chop tomatoes directly in can using kitchen shears.

Add tomatoes, reserved cooking water, and a pinch of sugar to the pot with the pasta. Cook over medium-high heat until warmed through. Add roasted zucchini and peppers, chopped basil leaves, and 2⁄3rds of the Parmesan . Stir until pasta is well coated, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer pasta to a serving platter and dollop ricotta over top. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and whole basil leaves. Season to taste with pepper.

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