Baked Pasta

I can provide you with a basic recipe for baked pasta, a classic Italian dish loved by all. Here you will find the list of ingredients and the instructions for preparation. Then, to give a personal touch, I can suggest some Italian variations.

Ingredients

• 500 g of short pasta (rigatoni, penne, etc.)
• 400 g of tomato puree
• 300 g of mozzarella (preferably spun paste)
• 100 g of grated Parmesan
• 200 g of ground meat (optional)
• 2 eggs (optional)
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Fresh basil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Butter for greasing the baking dish

Preparation

1. Prepare the sauce by sautéing the chopped onion and garlic in a little oil. Add the ground meat, if you want a version with meat, and sauté until cooked.
2. Pour in the tomato puree and cook on low heat for at least 20 minutes. Add chopped basil, salt, and pepper to taste.
3. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water until al dente. Drain and cool under cold water to stop the cooking process.
4. In a bowl, mix the pasta with some of the sauce and half of the Parmesan, and, if desired, add the beaten eggs to bind everything together.
5. Grease a baking dish with butter, pour in a first layer of pasta, then add pieces of mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan.
6. Repeat the layers until all the ingredients are used up, finishing with Parmesan and mozzarella.
7. Bake at 180 °C for 20-30 minutes, or until the surface is golden and crispy.

For a vegetarian variant, you can replace the ground meat with roasted vegetables such as eggplants, zucchinis, and peppers. If you prefer a quicker version, you can use béchamel sauce instead of the meat sauce.

Baked pasta is a very versatile dish, and every Italian family has its own special version. You can add other cheeses, such as ricotta or provolone, or even slices of ham or salami between the layers. The important thing is that it is abundant and melting when served, to the delight of all diners. Enjoy your meal!