Baked Rigatoni with Mortadella Stars

I can provide you with a recipe for baked rigatoni with mortadella stars, a dish that offers a fun and tasty twist thanks to the addition of mortadella cut into star shapes. Here’s an Italian version:

Ingredients

• 350 g of rigatoni
• 150 g of mortadella
• 200 ml of béchamel sauce
• 100 g of mozzarella
• 50 g of grated Parmesan
• Butter as needed
• Salt as needed
• Pepper as needed

Preparation

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Cook the rigatoni in plenty of salted water following the package instructions to keep them al dente.
3. In the meantime, cut the mortadella into thick slices, and then use a star-shaped cookie cutter to make stars.
4. Drain the pasta and put it back in the pot, add the béchamel sauce, and mix well.
5. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and incorporate it into the pasta.
6. Add half of the mortadella stars and half of the grated Parmesan, then mix to distribute evenly.
7. Butter a baking dish and transfer the rigatoni into it.
8. Distribute the remaining mortadella stars on top and sprinkle with the leftover Parmesan.
9. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the surface becomes golden and crispy.
10. Serve hot.

Fun Fact

Mortadella is a traditional Italian cured meat that originated in Bologna, characterized by its delicate taste and slightly spicy flavor. In the dish we’ve prepared, the mortadella not only contributes flavor but also an element of playfulness and originality with the stars, which are perfect for intriguing little ones or adding a touch of fun at the table.

Enjoy your meal!