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Timballo di maccheroni with sausage and artichokes

17/11/2023

The timballo di maccheroni with sausage and artichokes is a rich and flavorful dish, perfect for an important dinner or festive occasion. Here are the ingredients and instructions to prepare it.

Ingredients

  • 400 g of maccheroni
  • 300 g of sausage
  • 4 artichokes
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 80 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 200 g of mozzarella (or other stringy cheese to taste)
  • 1 egg
  • 100 ml of white wine
  • Breadcrumbs (as needed)
  • Salt and pepper (as needed)
  • Extra virgin olive oil (as needed)
  • Butter (for greasing the baking dish)
  • Meat or vegetable broth (if necessary)

Preparation

  1. Clean the artichokes by removing the outer, harder leaves, cutting off the tips, and removing the inner hay. Cut them into wedges and soak them in lemony water to prevent browning.

  2. Drain the artichokes and sauté them in a pan with a drizzle of oil and the whole garlic clove, which you will later remove. Deglaze with the white wine and let it evaporate. If necessary, add a bit of broth to cook them until they are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  3. In another pan, cook the crumbled sausage meat without the casing until it is well browned.

  4. Boil the maccheroni in plenty of salted water, draining them al dente. Prepare a large bowl to dress the maccheroni with the sausage, artichokes, Parmesan, and diced mozzarella. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and mix everything well.

  5. Incorporate the beaten egg into the maccheroni mixture to bind the ingredients.

  6. Grease a baking dish with butter and sprinkle it with breadcrumbs. Pour the maccheroni mixture into the dish and even it out with the back of a spoon.

  7. Sprinkle the surface of the timballo with more breadcrumbs and a few flakes of butter.

  8. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 °C for about 20-30 minutes or until a golden crust forms on the surface.

  9. Allow the timballo to cool for a few minutes before unmolding and serving.

Trivia

The timballo is a traditional dish that lends itself to many regional variations and personalizations. Artichokes, with their slightly bitter taste, perfectly balance the saltiness of the sausage and the richness of the cheeses, creating a very pleasant balance of flavors. This dish is a creative way to present baked pasta, transforming it into a true centerpiece.

Timballo di maccheroni with sausage and artichokes