Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free is a delicious recipe for family dinners, to take to BBQs, or to have for an easy dinner while relaxing watching television.
Ok, so this dish is for when you want a delicious dinner of pasta but you need just a little bit of luxury added in with Halloumi.
So what is Halloumi?
Halloumi is a white cheese that originated from Cyprus and originally was made from sheep's milk but these days Halloumi is usually made with cow's milk. The cheese is similar to a mozzarella (a firm one) and has a stronger, saltier flavour.
Halloumi is absolutely delicious cooked slightly on a frypan where it has a delicious crispy outside and soft, full of flavour on the inside.
The best part about this pasta recipe is that there are two options for how you serve it.
One as a pasta dish ....
(without baking it in the oven)
Tip - When we are having it as a pasta dish we use sun-dried tomatoes instead of the fresh tomatoes as this gives more flavour.
Another Option - as a Pasta Bake!
Just one small tweak and this recipe can become a delicious pasta bake simply by mixing it with Parmesan cheese and baking it in the oven till it is crispy!
Tip- when we have it as a pasta bake we use fresh tomatoes to give more juice to the dish so it doesn't dry out while in the oven.
Recipe for Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 fresh tomatoes- diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion-finely chopped
- ½ tablespoon of minced garlic -you can use fresh garlic
- 250g Halloumi cheese- cut into lengths
- 1 cup of Parmesan cheese
- 400g canned tomatoes
- Fresh Oregano leaves
- Fresh basil leaves
- Freshly ground pepper
- 500g gluten free penne - cooked according to packet instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees - (moderate oven)
- Cook the gluten free pasta and wash in water to rinse and let it drain.
- In a large saucepan, add olive oil, garlic and onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until just softened. Add the fresh tomatoes and cook it till they soften and then add a can of tomatoes.
- Add oregano, basil and cracked pepper and bring to the boil.
- While the sauce is simmering, cut the Halloumi into lengths, add some olive oil to a frypan and cook Halloumi on both sides till golden brown, (about 1-2 minutes on each side). Cut into cubes and add to the sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir through so all the pasta is covered.
- Layer ½ the pasta mixture into an oven proof dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and the basil, then add the remaining pasta mixture.
-
Top with more Parmesan cheese and basil and bake in a moderate oven for 20 mins or until the topstarts to go golden brown.
- 2 fresh tomatoes- diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion-finely chopped
- ½ tablespoon of minced garlic -you can use fresh garlic
- 250g Halloumi cheese- cut into lengths
- 1 cup of Parmesan cheese
- 400g canned tomatoes
- Fresh Oregano leaves
- Fresh basil leaves
- Freshly ground pepper
- 500g gluten free penne - cooked according to packet instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees - (moderate oven)
- Cook the gluten free pasta and wash in water to rinse and let it drain.
- In a large saucepan, add olive oil, garlic and onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until just softened.
- Add the fresh tomatoes and cook it till they soften and then add a can of tomatoes.
- Add oregano, basil and cracked pepper and bring to the boil.
- While the sauce is simmering, cut the Halloumi into lengths, add some olive oil to a frypan and cook Halloumi on both sides till golden brown, (about 1-2 minutes on each side). Cut into cubes and add to the sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir through so all the pasta is covered.
- Layer ½ the pasta mixture into an oven proof dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and the basil, then add the remaining pasta mixture.
- Top with more Parmesan cheese and basil and bake in a moderate oven for 20 mins or until the top starts to go golden brown.
Enjoy!
Gday Thanks for sharing at our #SayGdayParty and how YUM! Thanks for sharing your carrot cake too; both pinned!
Please revisit and say G'day to the hosts and another person at the party if you already haven't You can pin up to 3 each week! Cheers! Joanne What's On The List?
I love Halloumi but I always seem to grill it and have it in pittas so its nice to see an alternative idea!
Oh, that looks divine - I love a pasta bake when the weather turns cooler, and this one looks just amazing! Pinning it now.
#TastyTuesdays
Gorgeous pasta bake, we adore halloumi here too (obviously)! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
This was a really great way to use up some leftovers from vegetable skewers on the BBQ! Threw in some roughly chopped courgette and cooked hamburger - delicious. Thanks for the idea 😁