RECIPES / CARIBBEAN COOKING

One-Dish Air Fryer Beef and Mozzarella Pasta

Ground beef is seasoned with BackYard Blendz Original Green Seasoning and browned in an air-fryer-safe dish before rotini, tomato sauce and boiling water are added. The pasta cooks covered until tender, then finishes uncovered beneath a bubbling layer of mozzarella.

PREP

10 mins

COOK

40 mins

YIELD

4 servings

CUISINE

Caribbean-Italian Fusion

HEAT

None

Ingredients

1 lb / 450 g lean ground beef
1 tbsp BackYard Blendz Original Green Seasoning
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
8 oz / 225 g dry rotini or fusilli pasta
2 cups / 480 ml plain tomato sauce or passata
1¼ cups / 300 ml boiling water, plus up to ¼ cup / 60 ml more if needed
1½ cups / approximately 170 g grated low-moisture mozzarella
Cooking spray or 1 tsp neutral oil, for the dish
Salt, only if needed after tasting

Method

Season the beef. Place the ground beef in a bowl and add the BackYard Blendz Original Green Seasoning and black pepper. Mix gently until evenly distributed without compacting the meat. Leave for 15 minutes while the air fryer preheats.
Prepare the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C / 375°F for 3 minutes. Lightly grease the air-fryer-safe dish.
Brown the beef. Spread the beef in a thin, even layer in the dish. Air fry at 190°C / 375°F for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the dish, break the beef into small crumbles and stir. Return it for another 4–6 minutes, stirring once if needed, until no pink remains and the beef reaches at least 71°C / 160°F. Carefully spoon off excessive rendered fat.
Add the pasta and sauce. Stir the dry pasta, tomato sauce and 1¼ cups boiling water into the beef. Press the pasta down so it is almost completely covered by liquid. The mixture should remain at least 2 cm / ¾ inch below the rim of the dish.
Cover and cook. Cover the dish tightly with foil, crimping it securely below the rim so no loose foil can lift towards the heating element. Reduce the air fryer to 180°C / 355°F and cook for 12 minutes.
Stir and check the liquid. Carefully remove the foil, keeping hands clear of the steam. Stir from the edges towards the centre. If the pasta is still very firm and the sauce looks dry, add 2–4 tbsp of the remaining boiling water. Re-cover securely and cook for another 8–12 minutes.
Check the pasta. The pasta should be tender with a slight bite, and the sauce should still look a little looser than the final consistency. If necessary, stir in a little more boiling water, re-cover and cook for 3–5 minutes more.
Add the mozzarella. Remove the foil and stir the pasta once more. Spread the mozzarella evenly over the top. Increase the temperature to 200°C / 390°F and air fry uncovered for 3–5 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbling and lightly golden.
Rest and serve. Let the pasta rest for 5 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken as it stands. Taste before adding any salt.

BackYard Blendz Chef Notes

Use a 20 cm / 8-inch round or square air-fryer-safe metal dish at least 6 cm / 2½ inches deep, with enough clearance for air to circulate. Do not overfill the dish.

Brown the beef first and verify that it reaches at least 71°C / 160°F before adding the pasta. This improves flavour, creates even crumbles and allows excessive rendered fat to be removed.

Use boiling water and keep the dish tightly covered while the pasta hydrates. Secure the foil below the rim so the air stream cannot lift it towards the heating element.

Air fryers vary materially. Begin checking after 20 minutes of covered pasta cooking and add only boiling water, 2 tablespoons at a time, if needed.

Use low-moisture mozzarella. Fresh mozzarella can release too much liquid and prevent even browning.

Taste before adding salt because the seasoning, tomato sauce and mozzarella all contribute salt.

For medium heat, substitute BackYard Blendz Spicy Green Seasoning at the same quantity.

Cool leftovers promptly, refrigerate in a covered container and use within 2 days. Reheat until steaming hot throughout.

Made with BackYard Blendz

BackYard Blendz Original Green Seasoning

The fresh seasoning at the heart of this recipe. Explore the product, see the ingredients and add it to your kitchen.

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