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Baked Anelletti

17/11/2023

Baked anelletti are a classic Sicilian dish that is very tasty and perfect for a family Sunday or special occasions. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

  • 500 g of anelletti (small ring-shaped pasta)
  • 300 g of minced meat (pork and beef mixture)
  • 1 onion
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 stalk of celery
  • 400 g of tomato sauce
  • 100 g of peas (optional)
  • 200 g of caciocavallo or provola cheese, cubed
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • Breadcrumbs as needed
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • Butter as needed (for the baking dish)
  • Breadcrumbs (for the baking dish)

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing a sauce with chopped onion, carrot, and celery, sautéing them in a pan with a little olive oil.
  2. Add the minced meat and brown it until it is no longer pink.
  3. Pour in the tomato sauce, adjust with salt and pepper, and cook for about 30 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. If you like, add the peas towards the end of cooking.
  4. Meanwhile, cook the anelletti in boiling salted water for about half the cooking time indicated on the package so that they remain very al dente.
  5. Pre-heat the oven to 190 °C.
  6. Drain the pasta and mix it with the prepared sauce, adding the cubed caciocavallo, grated Parmesan, and beaten eggs. Mix everything well.
  7. Butter a baking dish and sprinkle it with breadcrumbs. Pour half of the pasta and meat mixture into the dish, then add a layer of caciocavallo or provola slices and cover with the remaining mixture.
  8. Sprinkle the top with more breadcrumbs and a few flakes of butter.
  9. Bake the anelletti for about 30 minutes or until the surface is golden brown.
  10. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

This dish reflects the Sicilian culinary tradition that often pairs baked pasta with meat and cheese, creating a rich and hearty dish. The traditional version can also include sliced hard-boiled eggs inside or fried eggplant placed between layers of pasta. The baked anelletti can be prepared in advance and reheated before serving, maintaining their delicious flavor.

Baked Anelletti