White Baked Pasta

White baked pasta is a delicious and comforting dish, perfect for a family lunch or special occasions. Here is a recipe to prepare this dish.

Ingredients

• 500 g of short pasta (such as rigatoni or penne)
• 300 g of béchamel sauce
• 200 g of diced cooked ham
• 150 g of mozzarella, cut into cubes
• 100 g of grated parmesan cheese
• Nutmeg, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Butter for greasing the pan
• Breadcrumbs for the crust, optional

Preparation

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In the meantime, prepare the béchamel sauce following your favorite recipe or using a ready-made one. Season the béchamel with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
3. Grease a baking dish with a bit of butter and sprinkle the bottom with breadcrumbs if you want a crunchier crust.
4. In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta, béchamel sauce, diced cooked ham, and mozzarella. Ensure everything is well distributed.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and level the surface with a spoon.
6. Sprinkle the surface with the grated parmesan cheese.
7. Bake in the preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20-30 minutes or until the surface is golden and crispy.
8. Let the baked pasta rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Baked pasta is a versatile dish that you can personalize in many ways. Some add crumbled sausage, meatballs, mushrooms, or vegetables such as spinach or artichokes. Every region of Italy has its variant, and every family has its secret touch!