Iceland Cod & Mozz Cavatappi Bake

🥘 Ingredients

• bell pepper
  2 unit
• butter
  1 tbsp
• cavatappi pasta
  12 oz
• chili flakes
  2 tsp
• chives (sliced)
  ¼ oz
• cream cheese
  4 tbsp
• fresh mozzarella
  8 oz
• marinara sauce
  28 oz
• olive oil
• panko breadcrumbs
  ½ cup
• water
  ½ cup

🍳 Cookware

• medium pot
• baking sheet
• small microwave-safe bowl
• strainer
• large pan

1. 

   1

   Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry all produce. Halve bell pepper lengthwise; remove stem and seeds. Thinly slice chives . Tear fresh mozzarella into bite-size pieces.

   bell pepper: 2 unit, chives: ¼ oz (sliced), fresh mozzarella: 8 oz
2. 

   2

   Rub each bell pepper half with a drizzle of olive oil ; season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet , cut sides down. Roast on top rack until softened and lightly charred, ⏱️ 20 minutes .

   olive oil
3. 

   3

   Meanwhile, place butter in a small microwave-safe bowl ; microwave until just melted, ⏱️ 30 seconds . Stir in panko breadcrumbs and season with salt.

   butter: 1 tbsp, panko breadcrumbs: ½ cup
4. 

   4

   Once water is boiling, add cavatappi pasta to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, ⏱️ 10 minutes . Drain using a strainer and set aside.

   cavatappi pasta: 12 oz
5. 

   5

   While pasta cooks, heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add marinara sauce , water , half the chives, 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, ⏱️ 4 minutes . Turn off heat; stir in cream cheese until melted and combined. Season with salt and pepper.

   marinara sauce: 28 oz, water: ½ cup, chili flakes: 2 tsp, cream cheese: 4 tbsp
6. 

   6

   Once bell pepper is done roasting, remove from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer bell pepper to a cutting board, then thinly slice. Heat broiler to high. Stir sliced bell pepper and drained cavatappi into pan with sauce. If sauce seems too thick, add a splash of water. Season with salt and pepper. If your pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer mixture now to a baking dish. Sprinkle pasta mixture with mozzarella and panko. Broil until cheese melts and panko is golden brown, ⏱️ 3 minutes . Watch carefully to avoid burning!
7. 

   7

   Sprinkle pasta bake with remaining chives and as many remaining chili flakes as you like. Serve family style or divide between plates.