Roasted Pepper Cavatappi Milano

🥘 Ingredients

• bell pepper
  1 unit
• black pepper
  1 pinch
• butter
  1 tbsp
• cavatappi pasta
  8 oz
• chili flakes
  1 tsp
• cream cheese
  4 oz
• fresh basil
  1 bunch
• fresh mozzarella
  4 oz
• marinara sauce
  15 oz
• panko breadcrumbs
  ¼ cup
• salt
  1 pinch
• water
  ½ cup

🍳 Cookware

• medium pot
• baking sheet
• small bowl
• large pan

1. 

   1

   Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry all produce. Halve bell pepper lengthwise; remove stem and seeds. Pick leaves from fresh basil stems; roughly chop or tear leaves. Tear fresh mozzarella into bite-size pieces.

   bell pepper: 1 unit, fresh basil: 1 bunch, fresh mozzarella: 4 oz
2. 

   2

   Toss bell pepper halves on a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive oil each; season with salt and black pepper . Arrange cut sides down. Roast on top rack until softened and lightly charred ⏱️ 20 minutes . Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer to a cutting board, then thinly slice. Heat broiler to high.

   salt: 1 pinch, black pepper: 1 pinch
3. 

   3

   While bell pepper roasts, add 1 TBSP butter to a small bowl ; microwave until just melted ⏱️ 30 seconds . Stir in panko breadcrumbs and a pinch of salt.

   butter: 1 tbsp, panko breadcrumbs: ¼ cup
4. 

   4

   Once water is boiling, add cavatappi pasta to pot. Cook until al dente ⏱️ 9 minutes . Drain and set aside.

   cavatappi pasta: 8 oz
5. 

   5

   While pasta cooks, heat a large pan (preferably ovenproof) over medium-high heat. Add marinara sauce , water , half the chopped basil, a pinch of chili flakes , and a big pinch of salt; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer until slightly thickened ⏱️ 3 minutes . Turn off heat and stir in cream cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper.

   marinara sauce: 15 oz, water: ½ cup, chili flakes: 1 tsp, cream cheese: 4 oz
6. 

   6

   Stir sliced bell pepper and cavatappi into sauce. If needed, add more water a splash at a time until pasta is thoroughly coated in sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with mozzarella and panko. Broil on top rack until cheese has melted and panko is golden brown ⏱️ 2 minutes . Sprinkle with remaining chopped basil and more chili flakes if desired. Divide between plates and serve.