Baked Pasta with Mushrooms and Sausage

Baked pasta with mushrooms and sausage is a rich and flavorful dish, perfect for a family dinner or a meal with friends. Here I’ll provide you with a version with an Italian twist:

Ingredients

• 350 g of short pasta (such as rigatoni or penne)
• 300 g of sausage
• 300 g of mushrooms (champignons or mixed)
• 1 small onion
• 400 ml of tomato puree
• 200 ml of cooking cream
• 150 g of mozzarella cut into cubes
• 80 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Parsley (optional)
• Butter to grease the baking dish

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a pan, sauté the chopped onion in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add the crumbled sausage and brown until golden.
3. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook until they are soft. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. Pour in the tomato puree and cook for 10 minutes. Add the cream, mix, and cook for another 5 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in plenty of salted water for about 2 minutes less than the package instructions, to ensure it’s al dente.
6. Drain the pasta and mix it with the sausage and mushroom sauce, add the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan, then stir well.
7. Grease a baking dish with butter and transfer the pasta mixture into it. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and, if you wish, add chopped parsley for a touch of freshness.
8. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the surface is golden and crispy.
9. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Baked pasta is a very versatile dish, and every region of Italy has its version. Some add béchamel sauce for a creamier texture, while others prefer a drier sauce with many more types of stringy cheeses.

Enjoy your meal!