Baked Pasta with Mozzarella and Tomato

Baked Pasta with Mozzarella and Tomato is a classic Italian dish, ideal for family days. Here is the recipe you can follow to prepare this tasty dish.

Ingredients

• 500 g of short pasta (such as rigatoni or penne)
• 400 g of canned peeled tomatoes
• 200 g of mozzarella
• 100 g of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Fresh basil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Start by preheating the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a large pan, sauté the finely chopped onion and garlic in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. When they become transparent, add the previously crushed peeled tomatoes. Season with salt, pepper and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes until the sauce thickens. At the end of cooking, add the hand-torn basil.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in plenty of salted water according to the package instructions but stop cooking a few minutes early (the pasta must be al dente, as it will continue to cook in the oven).
4. Drain the pasta and mix it with the tomato sauce. Add the diced mozzarella and some of the Parmesan, mixing well to distribute the ingredients.
5. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, even out the surface, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
6. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the surface is golden and crispy.
7. Let it rest for a few minutes out of the oven before serving.

For an even more Italian touch, you might add some fresh basil leaves on top of the pasta before serving for an intense flavor and aroma! Enjoy your meal!