We had a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors of tomatoes, so I decided to roast them with onion and garlic. Then I ran them through a food mill to make a flavorful sauce. I used some of it with orzo and froze the rest. Roasting tomatoes deepens their flavor and sweetness.
 |
| Ready for the oven! |
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
Line two baking sheets with foil.
Slice tomatoes and place cut-side up on the baking sheets – as many as you have.
Peel 1 head Garlic, and distribute cloves around both sheets
Peel 1 Onion and cut into thin wedges and distribute around both sheets.
Drizzle everything with Olive Oil (about 1/4 cup per sheet).
Sprinkle with Salt and Pepper.
Roast in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.
Cool slightly and process through a food mill fixed with a medium grade disk in small batches.
Be sure to scrape the pulp from the bottom of the disk.
 |
| Fresh from the oven |
 |
| Processing through the food mill |
At this point, you can separate the sauce.
I reserved 1 cup to use and placed 2 cups in a labeled ziploc bag to freeze for later use.
To make the Orzo, use a ratio of 1 cup uncooked pasta to 1 cup sauce.
Cook Orzo according to package directions.
During the last minute of cooking, stir in 1/2 cup frozen Peas.
Drain Orzo and Peas and set aside.
Return pasta pot to stove, over medium heat.
Pour reserved 1 cup Roasted Tomato Sauce into pan.
Season with:
1/2 teaspoon Italian Herb Mix
Salt and Pepper, to taste.
If sauce tastes bitter, add a pinch of sugar.
When sauce is warmed through, stir Orzo and Peas back into the pot.
Top with shaved Parmesan Cheese.
This dish works well as a side dish, or a vegetarian main course.
 |
| Once in a Blue Moon ~ view from our rooftop deck |
I love roasted tomatoes, what a perfect pasta dish! Have a great weekend, Susan! 🙂
I have successfully used my immersion blender to “puree” roasted tomatoes for a sauce. So nice and rich and thick. (Loved the blue moon!)
It makes me happy that you both appreciate and value those tomatoes and use them all. I haven’t grown my own tomatoes – it’s so much fun – since 1988. Your orzo plate looks delicious and that’s a great meal you’ve made, with just crusty bread and a green salad added. Thanks. The Blue Moon – I looked up at it and winked, just like Neil Armstrong’s family asked. A nice moment and memory. Your picture is stunning……..taken at night, I’m impressed. Don’t we have a birthday coming up?
I’m just going to have to bite the bullet and grow tomatoes in pots next year…huge pots as I want a LOT! Your tomatoes are perfect in this orzo dish…yum.
Yum this looks excellent!
Tomatoes are overflowing from the garden . This is a delicious way to use up some of natures bounty.