Best Pasta Cake Recipes

CRISPY PASTA CAKE WITH RED PEPPER AND MOZZARELLA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
• Add pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 2 minutes less then package says. Drain and pour cool water over the top. Drain well and toss with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• In a nonstick saute pan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil; when hot, add 1/4 of the pasta and spread evenly in the pan. Turn heat down to medium and cook until brown on the bottom. Carefully turn over and continue cooking until brown on other side. Remove with a slotted spoon to plate and keep warm in the oven. Continue with other 3 batches, adding more olive oil as needed.
• Divide crispy pasta among 4 plates and top with some Red Pepper and Mozzarella Salad.
• Just before serving, toss together the spinach, greens, peppers, mozzarella, and dressing. Taste for seasoning. Plate on top of crispy pasta cakes.

CRAB CAKE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil according to instructions. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of crab boil and pasta. Cook as directed. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water, and set aside in a large bowl to cool. Sauté garlic and shallot in a small pan with about a teaspoon of oil or butter for 3 minutes on low heat. *Deglaze with a splash of white wine. Add to cooling pasta. To the pasta add peppers, celery and parsley and stir to combine. Whisk together equal parts Remoulade sauce and mayo. Add a bit of pasta water to loosen if necessary. Season with Cajun seasoning to taste. Stir into pasta mixture. Gently fold crab into pasta salad and chill for 10-15 minutes in the fridge. At this point you could add more seasoning if you want it spicier. When ready to serve, place in a bowl and sprinkle toasted bread crumbs and chopped chives. * White wine can be left out entirely based on preference.

PASTA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Generously butter an 8-inch springform pan; set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt and pasta. Cook pasta until almost al dente. Drain, rinse under cold running water, and drain again. Transfer to a large bowl, and stir in red pepper and spinach; set aside.
• In another large bowl, stir to combine ricotta, eggs, basil, pecorino, garlic, and nutmeg; season with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl with pasta, and gently stir until well combined. Transfer to prepared pan. Smooth top, and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake until firm to the touch and the top is golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before unmolding, and serve warm or at room temperature.

PASTA POUND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Generously spray the inside of a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until not quite al dente according to the package instructions.
• Meanwhile, combine the eggs with the Parmesan and Pecorino in a large bowl. Whisk in 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon pepper.
• Drain the pasta and discard the cooking liquid. Pour the pasta into the egg mixture and toss thoroughly to combine. Once the pasta is evenly coated, pour it into the prepared bundt pan. Gently press the pasta into an even layer.
• Bake until the pasta cake is firm and some strands of pasta have turned golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto a large serving platter.
• For the toppings: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until a smooth paste forms. Cook the roux, stirring frequently, until it begins to smell like toasted nuts, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the milk, continuously whisking. Reduce the heat and simmer until a thick sauce forms, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the Cheddar and grated Parmesan and stir until melted, loosening with 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk if needed. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Allow to cool slightly before topping the cake.
• Decorate the cake with the cheese sauce. Allow the cheese "icing" to drip down the sides of the cake slightly. Top with the Parmesan shreds and basil to resemble sprinkles. Slice the cake into wedges and serve warm, with extra sauce on the side if desired.

PASTA CAKE

Steps:

• In a large pot of salted boiling water;cook pasta until slightly underdone 9about 12 minutes)Use a large pot so the pasta doesn't stick together.When done,rinse in cold water and drain again.Toss pasta with one tablespoon of olive oil to coat;set aside.
• Heat remaining 1 tblsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef.Cook,stirring occassionally until browned.Add garlic,salt and pepper to taste.Cook two more minutes.
• Add the crushed tomatoes;smmer until thickened.{about 20 minutes)
• Toss the cooked pasta with the Parmesan cheese.
• Butter a 9 inch SPRINGFORM PAN ;Tightly pack pasta into pan,standing each piece on end. Spread meat sauce on top of pasta.
• BAKE:at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Sprinkle mozzarella on top and bake another 10=15 minutes until the cheese is golden.
• Remove from the oven.Let stand for 15 minutes.Run a knife around the edge to loosen.UNMOLD. Cut into wedges and serve.