Become a pro in the kitchen!

Occasions catering and Hireage Limited specialises in delicious Jamaican and international delicacies that will leave you wanting more. Try out their famous Ziti Baked pasta and their quick and easy callaloo quiche.

 

Ziti Baked

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 55 minutes

Yield: Serves at least 8

If you don’t have Italian seasoning in the pantry, use 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil and ½ teaspoon dried thyme.

INGREDIENTS

1lb ziti (can substitute penne) pasta

Olive oil

1lb ground beef or pork

1 large onion, chopped

3-4 garlic cloves, chopped

1tsp fresh rosemary (or basil), minced

1tsp Italian seasoning

½tsp red pepper flakes

1 large jar of marinara sauce (about 32 ounces) or make your own tomato sauce

½lb of mozzarella cheese, grated

1 heaping cup of ricotta cheese

1cup grated parmesan or pecorino cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil the pasta: Heat a large pot of water (2 quarts of water) to a strong boil. Add a tablespoon of salt. Add the pasta and cook at a rolling boil, uncovered, until the pasta is al dente – edible, but still a little firm to the bite.

Drain the pasta through a colander. Toss with a little olive oil so the pasta does not stick together while you make the sauce.

2. Brown the meat: While the water is heating in the previous step, start on the sauce. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering hot, add the bulk sausage or ground meat. Break up any large chunks of sausage as it cooks. Brown well.

Don’t stir that often or it will be more difficult for the meat to brown. If you are using ground beef or pork instead of sausage, sprinkle with a little salt.

3 Add onions and sauté, then add garlic, spices, then tomato sauce: When the meat is mostly browned, add the onions and stir well to combine. Sauté everything until the onions are translucent and beginning to brown, about 4-5 minutes.

Add the garlic, rosemary or basil, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Cook 1 minute, then add the tomato sauce and stir well. Bring to a simmer.

4 Preheat the oven to 350°F.

5 Layer sauce, cheese, pasta in casserole dish: Spread a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of a 9”x13” casserole pan, then dot the surface with half the ricotta cheese. Ladle a spoonful of sauce into the pasta, stir it well and then add the pasta into the casserole.

Pour the rest of the sauce over the pasta, dot the remaining ricotta cheese over the pasta, and sprinkle on top both the mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese.

6 Bake 20 min: Bake in oven at 350°F until the top is lightly browned and the cheese melted, about 20 minutes.

 

Lasagna

CALLALOO QUICHE

INGREDIENTS

1tbsp margarine

1lb callaloo

1 medium onion (chopped)

1tsp pepper (chopped)

1tsp black pepper

1tsp MSG

½cup shredded carrot or diced

1 tsp thyme leaves

2 cups cheddar cheese (1 cup white & 1 cup orange)

1pt milk

8 eggs

½lb short crust pastry

2tsps salt

 

DIRECTION

1. Cook callaloo to reduce bulk, add carrot and half of all seasoning. Set aside to cool.

2. Blend together milk, eggs, ½ of cheese and rest of seasoning.

3. Roll out pastry and line a 9”x13” roasting pan, use pastry to form a rim.

4. Spread callaloo evenly over pastry. Sprinkle over remaining cheese, diced carrot and tomato.

5. Bake at 375°F for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

6. Cut in desired sizes.

latara.boodie@gleanerjm.com