Best Checca Recipes

SPAGHETTINI WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the next 7 ingredients in a food processor. Pulse just until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped (do not puree).
• Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water. Toss the pasta with the tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella in a large bowl. Add some of the reserved pasta water (about 1/4 cup) if the sauce looks dry. Serve immediately.

VERONICA'S VEGGIE MEATLOAF WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Checca Sauce: Combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, basil, and oil in a processor. Pulse the tomatoes until they are coarsely chopped, being careful not to puree. Set aside. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
• For the Lentil Loaf: Place the lentils in a large saucepan of cold water. Bring the water just to a boil over high heat. Carefully drain the boiling water and rinse the lentils. Meanwhile, in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat, bring the broth to a boil. Add the rice and return the liquid to a boil. Decrease the heat to low, cover the rice, and gently simmer without stirring for 10 minutes. Stir in the lentils, onion, carrot, and celery. Cover and continue cooking without stirring until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes longer. Turn off the heat. Sprinkle the corn over the rice and lentils and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover and let stand for 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter over a 10 by 4 1/2 by 3-inch loaf pan. In a heavy, large skillet, cook the spinach over medium heat until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach. Transfer the spinach to a work surface and coarsely chop.
• In a large bowl, gently mix the lentil mixture, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, salt, pepper, and half of the checca sauce. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Arrange the sliced tomatoes in a row over the lentil mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Bake uncovered until the loaf is heated through and the topping is melted and starting to brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Slice the loaf into 2-inch slices, arrange on plates, and serve with the remaining checca sauce.

SPAGHETTI ALLA CHECCA

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.
• Add a tablespoon of salt and the pasta.
• Be sure all the strands are submerged.
• While that cooks combine tomatoes, mozzarella and herbs.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a saucepan until smoking hot.
• Pour over the tomato mixture.
• When pasta is done, drain and add to the tomato mixture.
• Toss until well coated.
• Cover bowl and let stand about 2 minutes so the cheese begins to melts.

ALLA CHECCA

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil in a non-metal bowl.
• Stir in salt.
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Allow to sit at room temperature at least 2 hours, or as long as 10 hours.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
• Drain.
• Pour uncooked sauce over hot pasta, and toss.
• Add grated Parmesan cheese to your liking.

CHECCA

Steps:

• Mix tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and garlic together in a large non-reactive bowl; season with salt.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let mixture sit at room temperature until the flavors meld, 2 to 10 hours.
• Stir Parmesan cheese into the tomato mixture just before serving.

MY MOM'S VEGETABLE "MEATLOAF" WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce:
• In a food processor, combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, basil, oil, salt, and pepper. Pulse the tomatoes until they are coarsely chopped, being careful not to puree them. Transfer the sauce to a bowl.
• For the lentil loaf:
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 10 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with vegetable oil cooking spray.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly. Reserve the skillet.
• In the same large skillet, cook the spinach over medium heat until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly. Squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach. Transfer the spinach to a cutting board and coarsely chop. Add to the onion mixture.
• Add the lentils, brown rice, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella, the corn, basil, eggs, egg white, salt, pepper, and 3/4 cup of the sauce to the cooled onion mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Arrange the sliced tomatoes in 2 rows over the lentil mixture, covering the top completely. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Bake until the loaf is heated through and the topping is melted and starting to brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Slice the loaf (still in the pan) into 1-inch slices, arrange on plates, and serve with the remaining sauce.

PASTA à LA CHECCA

Steps:

• 1. Cook the pasta until al dente.
• 2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, squeeze the tomatoes to break them up (it's faster than chopping, and your kid will likely love joining in).
• 3. Add the garlic, oil, arugula (if using), salt, and pepper; set aside.
• 4. Drain the pasta (reserving 1/2 cup of the water) and toss it with the tomatoes. If the pasta is still a little dry, add some of the cooking water.
• 5. Let sit until the heat from the pasta has cooked the tomatoes and garlic slightly and wilted the arugula, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ADI GIOVANETTI'S PASTA ALLA CHECCA (LINGUINE WITH FRESH HERBS)

Steps:

• Over medium heat, saute the chopped onion in the olive oil until onion is just golden brown. Remove from heat and add the tomatoes, juice and all. Crush the tomatoes slightly with a fork. Return to low heat and simmer until the sauce has thickened. Taste for seasoning and add salt and freshly ground black pepper if desired.
• While the sauce is cooking, wash and dry the arugula, discarding thick stems. Cut into thin ribbons and set aside.
• Bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add salt if desired and when water reboils, add pasta. Stir vigorously with a long-handled wooden spoon or fork to separate pasta strands and bring water quickly back to a boil.
• When pasta is done, drain quickly and turn into a warm serving bowl. Remove sauce from fire and add the arugola, stirring to mix well. Pour sauce over pasta and sprinkle with half the pecorino cheese. Serve immediately, passing the rest of the cheese separately.

SIMPLE & DELICIOUS PENNE ALLA CHECCA

Steps:

• Boil the tomatoes for about 4-5 minutes. Not fully cooked just until they kinda crack and the tomato skin come off easy. Peel them, get the seeds out and then dice them.
• In a large bowl: Add the diced tomatoes, the fresh basil, oregano and thyme finely chopped, the garlic and the extra virgin olive oil.
• Salt and pepper for taste. Mix all the ingredients and to combine this delicious flavors just put them away for a bit -- while the pasta is cooking.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente or just follow the package instructions.
• Cut the mozzarella cheese into 1/2 inch cubes.
• When the pasta is ready, save a 1/4 cup of pasta water, just in case the sauce looks a little dry or if you just want it a little more saucy.
• Drain pasta.
• Toss the hot pasta in the bowl with the fresh tomato mixture, add the mozzarella then toss again. Add pasta water if necesary.
• Plate, sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top and enjoy!

SPAGHETTI WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a blender, combine the oil, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, basil, onions, garlic, salt and pepper; cover and process until coarsely chopped. , Drain spaghetti and place in a bowl. Add the tomato mixture, mozzarella cheese and water; toss to coat.

ALLA CHECCA

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil in a non-metal bowl. Stir in salt. Cover with plastic wrap. Allow to sit at room temperature at least 2 hours, or as long as 10 hours. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain. Pour uncooked sauce over hot pasta, and toss. Add grated Parmesan cheese to your liking.

CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, Parmesan, basil, and oil just until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped (do not purée). Transfer the sauce to a large bowl. Stir in the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper to taste. Toss the sauce immediately with your choice of freshly cooked pasta.

PASTA ALLA CHECCA WITH TOMATO SEPENTINI & VODKA & PINK PEPPERCORN SAUCE

Steps:

• combine garlic, basic, and olive oil in non-metal bowl stil in salt to taste cover with plastic wrap allow to sit at room temp for at least 2 hours, up to 10 hours cook pasta in large pat of boiling salted water to al dente drain pour uncooked sauce over hot pasta and toss add parmesan cheese to taste

VERONICA'S VEGGIE MEATLOAF WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Checca Sauce:
• Combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, basil, and oil in a processor. Pulse the tomatoes until they are coarsely chopped, being careful not to puree. Set aside. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
• For the Lentil Loaf:
• Place the lentils in a large saucepan of cold water. Bring the water just to a boil over high heat. Carefully drain the boiling water and rinse the lentils. Meanwhile, in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat, bring the broth to a boil. Add the rice and return the liquid to a boil. Decrease the heat to low, cover the rice, and gently simmer without stirring for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the lentils, onion, carrot, and celery. Cover and continue cooking without stirring until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes longer. Turn off the heat. Sprinkle the corn over the rice and lentils and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover and let stand for 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter over a 10 by 4 1/2 by 3-inch loaf pan. In a heavy, large skillet, cook the spinach over medium heat until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach. Transfer the spinach to a work surface and coarsely chop.
• In a large bowl, gently mix the lentil mixture, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, basil, salt, pepper, and half of the checca sauce. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Arrange the sliced tomatoes in a row over the lentil mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese. Dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Bake uncovered until the loaf is heated through and the topping is melted and starting to brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Slice the loaf into 2-inch slices, arrange on plates, and serve with the remaining checca sauce.

SPAGHETTINI WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often.
• Meanwhile, combine the next 7 ingredients in a food processor.
• Pulse just until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped (do not puree).
• Drain pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.
• Toss the pasta with the tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella in a large bowl.
• Add some of the reserved water (about 1/4 cup) if the sauce looks dry.
• Serve immeidately.
• Serves 4.

VERONICA'S VEGGIE MEATLOAF WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Checca Sauce: Combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, basil, and oil in a processor. Pulse the tomatoes until they are coarsely chopped, being careful not to puree. Set aside. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. For the Lentil Loaf: Place the lentils in a large saucepan of cold water. Bring the water just to a boil over high heat. Carefully drain the boiling water and rinse the lentils. Meanwhile, in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat, bring the broth to a boil. Add the rice and return the liquid to a boil. Decrease the heat to low, cover the rice, and gently simmer without stirring for 10 minutes. Stir in the lentils, onion, carrot, and celery. Cover and continue cooking without stirring until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes longer. Turn off the heat. Sprinkle the corn over the rice and lentils and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover and let stand for 5 more minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter over a 10 by 4 1/2 by 3-inch loaf pan. In a heavy, large skillet, cook the spinach over medium heat until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach. Transfer the spinach to a work surface and coarsely chop. In a large bowl, gently mix the lentil mixture, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, salt, pepper, and half of the checca sauce. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Arrange the sliced tomatoes in a row over the lentil mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Bake uncovered until the loaf is heated through and the topping is melted and starting to brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Slice the loaf into 2-inch slices, arrange on plates, and serve with the remaining checca sauce.

VEGGIE MEATLOAF WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• Checca Sauce:
• Combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, basil, and oil in a food processor. Pulse the tomatoes until they are coarsely chopped, but not pureed. Set aside. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
• For the Brown Rice Lentil Loaf:
• Place the lentils in a large saucepan of cold water. Bring the water just to a boil over high heat. Carefully drain the boiling water and rinse the lentils. Meanwhile, in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat, bring the broth to a boil. Add the rice and return liquid to a boil. Turn heat to low, cover the rice, and gently simmer without stirring for 10 minutes. Stir in the lentils, onion, carrot, and celery. Cover and continue cooking without stirring until rice and lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes more. Turn off the heat. Sprinkle the corn over the rice and lentils and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover and let it stand for 5 more minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350*F.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter over a 10"x4 1/2"x3" loaf pan. In a large heavy skillet, cook the spinach over medium heat until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach. Move the spinach to a cutting board and coarsely chop.
• In a large bowl, gently mix the lentil mixture, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, salt, pepper, and half of the checca sauce. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Arrange the sliced tomatoes in a row over the lentil mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 2 tbls. of Parmesan cheese. Dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Bake uncovered until loaf is heated through and the topping is melted and starting to brown, about 30 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes. Slice the loaf into 2-inch slices, arrange on plates, and serve with the remaining checca sauce. Enjoy!

TAGLIOLINI WITH UNCOOKED TOMATO SAUCE (TAGLIOLINI ALLA CHECCA)

Steps:

• for the pasta:.
• Knead everything together. Roll the pasta and cut by hand into tagliolini, long, paper-thin ribbon noodles, about 1/8 inch wide or less.
• For the sauce:.
• Marinate the diced tomatoes with the garlic, bay leaf, basil, salt and pepper and extra virgin olive oil overnight. Cook the tagliolini al dente in salted, boiling water, drain and plate. Top with the marinated tomato mixture, some freshly julienned basil and the buffalo mozzarella.

VEGGIE MEATLOAF WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Checca Sauce: Combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, basil and oil in a processor. Pulse the tomatoes until they are coarsely chopped, being careful not to puree. Set aside. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Lentil Loaf: Place the lentils in a large saucepan of cold water. Bring the water just to a boil over high heat. Carefully drain the boiling water and rinse the lentils. Meanwhile, in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat, bring the broth to a boil. Add the rice and return the liquid to a boil. Decrease the heat to low, cover the rice, and gently simmer without stirring for 10 minutes. Stir in the lentils, onions, carrot and celery. Cover and continue cooking without stirring until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes longer. Turn off the heat. Sprinkle the corn over the rice and lentils and let stand, covered for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover and let stand for 5 more minutes. Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter over a 10 by 4 1/2 by 3 inch loaf pan. In a heavy, large skillet, cook the spinach over medium heat until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach. Transfer the spinach to a work surface and coarsely chop. In a large bowl, gently mix the lentil mixture, spinach 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, salt, pepper and half of the checca sauce. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Arrange the sliced tomatoes in a row over the lentil mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.

CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine in food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped, being careful not to puree. Season with salt and pepper.