Rigatoni with Fiery Roast Tomatoes and Ricotta

Photos by Saghar Setareh

This pasta is inspired by the volcanic island of Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands and its fiery unpredictable nature.

I cherish this dish because it delivers on sort and deliciousness with minimal effort. All that’s required is striking a dish of tomatoes in the oven, followed by the ricotta, cooking the pasta, and uniting the 2 in the baking dish. I select to mediate about it as an ode to Stromboli thru spice and domed ricotta.

• 1 lb. 5 oz. cherry tomatoes, gash into quarters
  

• 1 minute purple chili, deseeded and finely chopped
  

• ¼ tsp. chili flakes
  

• 2½ fl. oz. olive oil
  

• Sea salt
  

• 9 oz. ricotta, drained
  

• 1 lb. 2 oz. rigatoni
  

• 2¾ oz. parmesan, finely grated
  

• Handful of basil leaves
  

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (standard oven) or 350°F (convection/fan-compelled oven).

2. Establish the cherry tomatoes in a massive baking dish (I spend one gorgeous adequate to attend from). Add the chopped chili, chili flakes, half the olive oil, and a pair of generous pinches of salt and toss to combine. Roast for 15 minutes.

3. Protect shut away the tomatoes from the oven—by now they ought to soundless comprise started to steam and fall down. Spend a spoon to carry out a dwelling in the heart and nestle the ricotta into the mixture, wide imperfect downwards in yell that it seems to be to be love slightly volcano. Spoon one of the foremost cooking juices over the ricotta, alongside with one other drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Return to the oven and roast for one other 15 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, bring a massive saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the rigatoni, give it a shapely scoot in yell that it doesn’t stick together, and cook unless al dente (about 12–13 minutes, but compare the kit instructions). Drain, reserving half a mugful of the pasta water in case it’s wanted.

5. Protect shut away the tomatoes and ricotta from the oven. Add the drained rigatoni, parmesan, basil and final olive oil and gently toss to combine, with a splash of pasta water if wanted. Protect shut the dish to the table and attend at once.

Excerpted from Italian Coastal by Amber Guinness. © Thames & Hudson Australia 2024. Textual remark material © Amber Guinness. Reprinted by permission of Thames & Hudson Inc. Recipe photo credit: © Saghar Setareh