Baked Ditali & Creamy Tomato Sauce

1

Prepare the ingredients & season the breadcrumbs:

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven, then preheat to 475°F. Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the bottom 1/2 inch of the broccoli stem; cut the broccoli into small pieces, keeping the florets intact. Peel and small dice the onion. Tear the cheese into small pieces. Peel and finely chop the garlic; using the flat side of your knife, smash until it resembles a paste (or use a zester). Place in a bowl and add the breadcrumbs. Stir in enough olive oil to moisten; season with salt and pepper.

2

Cook the pasta & broccoli:

Add the pasta and broccoli pieces to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes, or until the broccoli is bright green and the pasta is al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water, drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

3

Make the sauce:

While the pasta and broccoli cook, in a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the diced onion, Italian seasoning, and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add the tomatoes (carefully, as the liquid may splatter); season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Add the heavy cream (shaking the bottle before opening) and cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Turn off the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

4

Assemble the casserole:

Stir the sauce, capers, and reserved cooking water into the pot of cooked pasta and broccoli; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking dish. Evenly top with the cheese and seasoned breadcrumbs.

5

Bake the casserole & serve your dish:

Bake the casserole 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbly around the edges. Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with olive oil. Let stand for at least 2 minutes before serving. Enjoy!