Home

Zucchini-Lined Pasta Timbales

17/11/2023

I can guide you through the preparation of the pasta timbales with zucchini. This dish combines flavors and textures deliciously, with the zucchini serving as a crunchy coating and the pasta providing substance. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

  • 300 g of short pasta (rigatoni, penne, or similar)
  • 3-4 large zucchinis
  • 200 g of buffalo mozzarella
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 400 ml of tomato puree
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Fresh basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 180 °C.
  2. Cut the zucchini vertically into thin slices, using a mandoline or a sharp knife. Salt them lightly to let them lose some water, then grill the slices in a non-stick pan with a drizzle of oil until they are lightly browned and soft.
  3. Prepare the sauce by sautéing the garlic in a drizzle of oil and then adding the tomato puree. Season with salt, pepper, and torn basil leaves. Let it cook for about 15 minutes on medium-low heat.
  4. In the meantime, boil the pasta in salted water, draining it al dente.
  5. Once drained, mix the pasta with the prepared tomato sauce, diced mozzarella, and grated Parmesan. Also, add the beaten egg, which will help to bind everything together.
  6. Now lightly oil some ovenproof molds (you can use muffin molds or any other small, individual-type mold). Line the molds with the zucchini slices, letting them overhang slightly.
  7. Fill them with the seasoned pasta and fold the overhanging ends of the zucchini inward, in order to close the timbale on top.
  8. Bake the timbales for about 20 minutes or until you see the zucchini become crisp and golden on the surface.
  9. Let them cool for a few minutes before unmolding and serve them hot.

Curiosity

The timbale is an ancient dish, with its earliest traces dating back to Roman times. The term indicates a way of cooking in which the ingredients are set within an “edible shell” that maintains their shape. In Italy, the timbale is very popular and lends itself to numerous regional variations, from the Abruzzese macaroni timbale to the Sicilian anelletti timbale.