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Baked Pasta with Béchamel

28/11/2023

Baked pasta with béchamel is a traditional dish that embodies the essence of Italian home cooking. Celebrated for its simplicity and richness, this dish combines pasta in all its varieties with the creaminess of béchamel sauce, creating a symphony of flavors that comforts the palate. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

For the Pasta

  • 500 g of short pasta (such as fusilli, rigatoni, farfalle, etc.)
  • Salt to taste

For the Béchamel

  • 50 g of butter
  • 50 g of flour
  • 500 ml of whole milk
  • Grated nutmeg to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the Assembly

  • 200 g of grated cheese (parmesan, pecorino, or a mix of your choice)
  • Breadcrumbs to taste
  • Additional butter for greasing the baking dish

Preparation

Béchamel

  1. Heat the milk: In a small pot, heat the milk until it becomes lukewarm, avoiding bringing it to a boil. This helps to prevent lumps when adding the milk to the roux.
  2. Melt the butter: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  3. Add the flour: Combine the flour with the melted butter, stirring continuously until a smooth paste (roux) forms.
  4. Pour in the hot milk: Gradually add the hot milk, continuing to stir to avoid forming lumps.
  5. Cook until it thickens: Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat and cook until it thickens, for about 10 minutes.
  6. Season: Add salt, pepper, and grated nutmeg to taste.

Pasta

  1. Cook the pasta al dente in lots of salted water.
  2. Drain it and cool under running water to stop the cooking process.

Assembly and Baking

  1. Grease the baking dish: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a baking dish with butter.
  2. Mix pasta and béchamel: In a large bowl mix the cooked pasta with the warm béchamel, making sure the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
  3. Add the cheese: Fold in most of the grated cheese into the pasta and béchamel mixture, reserving a small portion for the top.
  4. Transfer to the baking dish: Pour the pasta mixture into the greased baking dish.
  5. Add cheese and breadcrumbs: Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese and breadcrumbs over the pasta.
  6. Bake in the oven: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the surface is golden and the béchamel is slightly bubbling.

This baked pasta can be enriched with additional ingredients such as spinach, mushrooms, or cooked ham for an extra touch.

Fun Facts

Despite its apparent simplicity, baked pasta with béchamel hides a fascinating history and considerable regional variety. In some Italian regions, it is traditional to prepare this dish for special occasions, such as holidays or family gatherings, personalizing it with local ingredients. For example, in some areas of southern Italy, mozzarella is added for a more stringy effect, while other regions prefer to use different types of pasta. Furthermore, baked pasta is often considered a “recovery” dish, perfect for reusing leftover pasta or other ingredients. Its versatility and ability to adapt to different tastes and ingredients make it a beloved and perpetually reinvented dish, a symbol of the creativity and hospitality of Italian cuisine.