Recipes

Spicy Vodka Soup

Spicy Vodka Soup

Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 1 jar Monte Bene Vodka pasta sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 Italian loaf
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 -3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/8 tsp. hot red pepper flakes
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Coarse Salt

Preparation:

Slice Italian loaf into 1” slices. Sprinkle olive oil onto both sides of each slice and place on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil and garlic cloves over medium heat. Use a wooden spoon to smash the garlic and release flavor. When garlic is just beginning to brown, pour in Monte Bene Vodka pasta sauce and bring to a slow simmer (remove garlic cloves for a less intense flavor).

Place bread slices in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until toasty. Add hot red pepper flakes to soup and fresh parsley to soup, stir, and allow to simmer for another 2 or 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat. Ladle into bowls and top with chunks of toasted bread and extra parsley.

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Gnocchi Soup with Sausage and Beans

 Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

  • 1 jar Monte Bene Tomato Basil pasta sauce
  • 1 lb. pre-made gnocchi (or follow this recipe for homemade gnocchi)
  • 1 lb. sweet or spicy Italian sausage
  • 1 can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
  • 10 oz. spinach leaves
  • 5 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup Pecorino Romano, grated
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 celery stalk, sliced 
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 bay leaf

Preparation:

In a large sauce pan or pot, heat olive oil on medium high heat. Add sausage and granulate. Once sausage begins to brown, add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring continuously, for about 3 minutes, until sausage is cooked through and onion becomes translucent. Add chicken stock, Monte Bene Tomato Basil pasta sauce and beans to the pan and increase heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and add cream. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add celery and bay leaf. Carefully stir in spinach and gnocchi and cook for about 3 minutes, until spinach is tender and gnocchi begin to float to the top. Add salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve with grated Pecorino Romano cheese.

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Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:
  • 1 jar Monte Bene Spicy Marinara pasta sauce
  • 4 chicken breasts or thighs
  • 2 cups whole grain rice
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp. oregano
  • 1/4 tsp. thyme
  • 6 oz. Crimini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 6 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 large white onion, halved and sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Chopped parsley
Preparation: 

Preheat oven to 350. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat olive oil in a medium saute pan (with lid) and add chicken. Brown on both sides, then remove and set aside. Add sliced onion and garlic and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Add mushroom, oregano, and thyme. Stir for another few minutes until well mixed. Stir in white wine and bring to a low simmer (sauce should be bubbly). Add Monte Bene Spicy Marinara pasta sauce and crushed tomatoes. Place chicken on top of sauce mixture so that they are not fully submerged. Cover and place the whole pan in the oven. Bake for 45 minutes, remove cover, and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare rice according to instructions. When the cacciatore is fully cooked, plate the rice and cover generously with chicken and sauce mixture. Top with fresh parsley and serve.

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Zucchini Pizza Bites

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Broil zucchini bites on a baking sheet for about 2 minutes, then remove from the oven. Put about 1 tsp of Monte Bene Garlic Marinara pasta sauce on each slice, then top with mozzarella and pepperoni as desired. Replace in oven and broil for another 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

The zucchini will be very hot - be sure to let them cool for a couple of minutes!

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Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed Peppers

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 jar Monte Bene Spicy Marinara pasta sauce
  • 4 bell peppers (whatever color you prefer)
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey
  • 1 small sweet onion, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, grated or chopped
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • salt and pepper

Preparation:

Remove the tops of the bell peppers and then scoop out the seeds and inner-membranes. Bring a pot of water to boil and place the peppers into the boiling water for about 1-1 1/2 minutes. Remove peppers (carefully!), rinse with cold water, and turn upside down on a plate/paper towel to drain.

In a skillet, cook the ground meat and onion. Add the jar of Monte Bene Spicy Marinara pasta sauce and zucchini to the skillet. Mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in mozzarella cheese and then fill each pepper with sauce mixture.

Place peppers in a baking/casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Remove them from the oven and plate.

Suggested side: white or brown rice

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Gluten-Free Meatloaf

Gluten-Free Meatloaf

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

  • 1 jar Monte Bene Garlic Marinara pasta sauce
  • 1-1 1/2 lb ground beef or turkey (no more than 85% lean)
  • 1 cup gluten-free oats
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 tbs natural cane sugar or brown sugar

Preparation:

In a large bowl, beat the egg, then add ground meat, onion, salt, pepper, cumin, parsley, milk, oats, and 1 cup of Monte Bene Garlic Marinara pasta sauce (and grated vegetables, if desired). Use your hands to mix the ingredients together. Continue to knead and mix for several minutes so that the spices are evenly distributed. If the meatloaf appears somewhat runny, add another 1/4-1/2 cup of oats. Tamp down the mixture in a bread pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Then warm the rest of the pasta sauce on the stove for about 2 minutes. Stir in the sugar, and pour the sauce over your meatloaf. Return loaf to the oven for 15 minutes.

(NOTE: You can check if your meatloaf is done using a meat thermometer - it should read at least 155 degrees.)

Remove loaf from oven, allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, slice, and serve!

Try adding a cup of grated carrots, zucchini, etc. for a more nutritious meal!

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Baby Eggplant Parmigiana

Baby Eggplant Parmigiana

Serves 4 to 6 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 jar Monte Bene Garlic Marinara pasta sauce 
  • Vegetable Oil
  • 4 baby eggplants
  • 3  eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan, freshly-grated 
  • 6 slices fresh mozzarella
  • 2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
  • Fresh basil leaves

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350. Rinse baby eggplant, remove the skin and slice into 1/2 to 3/4  inch slices. In a large frying pan, heat oil. Dip eggplant slices into egg and then into bread crumbs, coating completely. Place the breaded eggplant in hot oil and cook each side until golden brown.

Coat the bottom of a baking dish with 1 to 2 cups of Monte Bene Garlic Marinara pasta sauce. Layer the sauce with half of the cooked eggplant slices. Top with mozzarella and a second layer of eggplant slices and pasta sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes or until mozzarella cheese is fully melted. Remove from oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Garnish with basil and serve. 

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Chicken Stuffed Tortellini alla Vodka

Chicken Stuffed Tortellini alla Vodka

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

For the sauce

  • 1 24 oz. jar Monte Bene Vodka pasta sauce
  • 1 tsp. dried rosemary
  • 1/2 tsp. fresh oregano
  • 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • Parmesan cheese, sliced or shredded
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the pasta

  • 2 cups all purpose flour 
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3 large eggs
      For the filling
    • 1 to 2 chicken breasts, cooked thoroughly
    • 2 cups ricotta cheese
    • 1 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
    • 1 tsp. fresh basil, chopped
    • 1/2 tsp. garlic
    • Salt and pepper to taste

      Preparation:

      Cut chicken breasts into small cubes. In a large bowl, combine all of the filling ingredients. Filling will be lumpy. To prepare the pasta, combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Create a well or hole in the center of the dough and crack the eggs into it. Whisk together the eggs with a fork. Gradually begin pulling flour into the eggs, allowing a moist dough to begin to form. Place the dough and any excess flour onto a floured surface. Fold dough onto itself, flatten, and repeat, allowing the dough to become gradually firmer. Begin kneading the dough, adding extra flour as needed to prevent sticking. Continue kneading until the dough forms a smooth, elastic ball and no air bubbles appear when it is sliced into. Roll dough into a ball and place in a clean bowl and cover for 30 minutes, allowing dough to rest. Divide the dough into four equal balls and place on a well-floured baking sheet. Cover dough with a clean towel to prevent it from drying out. One at a time, take each ball of dough and press it with your hands to flatten it. Feed it through the thickest setting on a pasta machine. Fold the dough again, turn it, and feed it through the pasta machine several more times. Gradually decrease the thickness on the pasta machine, feeding the dough through each setting at least once. Once you have created a long, thin sheet, cut the dough into evenly shaped squares. Place 1 tsp. of filling in the center of the square. Fold the square over so that the corners meet, forming a triangle. Fold opposite corners of the triangle together and press firmly. Toss with flour and repeat with remaining dough. 

      Cook tortellinis al dente in a large pot of bowling water. Pour Monte Bene Vodka pasta sauce into a large saute pan and bring to a simmer. Add oregano, red pepper flakes, and rosemary. Drain pasta and plate. Top with sauce mixture, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and extra red pepper flakes as desired. Garnish with greens and fresh mozzarella. 

      This is a fun recipe to make on a weekend with the whole family! 

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      Breakfast Calzone

      Breakfast Calzone

      Serves 4 

      Ingredients:

      • 1 jar Monte Bene Tomato Basil pasta sauce
      • 1 pre-prepared roll of pizza dough
      • 4-5 eggs
      • ½ cup whole milk
      • ½ to 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
      • Sliced pepperoni (as much as desired)
      • 4 tsp. Pecorino Romano cheese or Parmesan, grated
      • 2 tsp. olive oil
      • Salt and pepper to taste

      Preparation:

      Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a pizza pan and lay out crust, creating a rectangle. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, milk, and salt and pepper until well combined. Add olive oil. In a medium skillet, cook egg mixture until eggs are set but moist (about 3 to 4 minutes). Slice dough into 4 evenly shaped rectangles. Add mozzarella to one side of each rectangle, leaving ½ inch of space on the edge. Add pepperoni, Pecorino Romano, and eggs. Fold empty side of dough over toppings and press the edges closed firmly. Bake for 12 to 13 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Heat Monte Bene Tomato Basil pasta sauce. Remove calzones from oven and serve with pasta sauce for dipping. For an on the go meal, add 1 to 2 cups of pasta sauce inside the calzone and bake a few minutes longer.

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      Stuffed Shells

      Stuffed Shells

      We're all about quick and easy dinners, especially when they involve pasta. We found a perfect dish that combines our two favorite qualities in a dish: cheesy and spicy! Use Monte Bene Spicy Marinara for this classic Stuffed Shells recipe.

       

      Prep Time: 20 minutes
      Cook Time: 30 Minutes
      Total Time: 50 minutes
      Serves: 6

      INGREDIENTS

      • 3/4 lb. jumbo pasta shells
      • Kosher salt
      • 1 (16-oz.) container ricotta
      • 1/2 (10-oz.) box frozen spinach, thawed, wrung out, and chopped
      • 2 cloves garlic, minced
      • 1 egg
      • 1/2 c. grated Parmesan, plus more for sprinkling
      • Zest of 1 lemon
      • 1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella oz. refrigerated cheese ravioli
      • 1 jar Monte Bene Spicy Marinara Pasta Sauce

      INSTRUCTIONS

        1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray or oil. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook jumbo shells according to package instructions until al dente.
        2. Drain, then scatter on prepared baking sheet.
        3. In a large bowl, mix together ricotta, spinach, egg, Parmesan, garlic, and lemon zest. Season with salt. Transfer mixture to a piping bag or a large resealable plastic bag and snip one corner.
        4. Spread a layer of
        5. Monte Bene Spicy Marinara Pasta Saucesauce into bottom of large skillet or medium baking dish. Fill each shell with ricotta mixture then place on top of sauce in concentric circles in an even layer. Top with more sauce and mozzarella. Place another layer of filled shells on top then spread more sauce on top. Sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella.

       

      Buon Appetito!

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