Best 6 Nonna Marias Pasta Al Forno Pasta In The Oven Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey to the heart of Italy with Nonna Maria's Pasta al Forno, a symphony of flavors that will transport your taste buds to a cozy trattoria in the countryside. This classic baked pasta dish showcases the rustic charm of traditional Italian cooking, blending tender pasta, rich and flavorful tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella cheese, and a medley of aromatic herbs.

As you delve into this article, you'll discover not just one, but a collection of delectable pasta al forno recipes that cater to diverse preferences and dietary needs. From the classic meat-based version to vegetarian and seafood variations, each recipe is a culinary masterpiece in its own right.

Whether you're a seasoned cook looking to expand your culinary horizons or a beginner seeking a comforting and flavorful dish to impress your loved ones, Nonna Maria's Pasta al Forno is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. With step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and stunning visuals, this article will guide you through the process of creating this timeless Italian dish, ensuring that every bite is a moment of pure culinary bliss.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

PASTA AL FORNO



Pasta al Forno image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h55m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

Extra-virgin olive oil, for cooking
1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced
One to two 28-ounce cans marinara sauce
1 bunch fresh basil
Salt and pepper
4 cups all-purpose flour, or more as needed
6 eggs
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground veal
1/2 cup panko, or more as needed
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan
3 pinches kosher salt
3 pinches ground black pepper
2 eggs
Canola oil, for frying
2 cups fresh ricotta
2 cups shredded mozzarella
Kosher salt

Steps:

  • For the sauce: Cover the bottom of a medium saucepan with oil and garlic and cook over medium heat until garlic browns. Add sauce, basil, salt and pepper. Cook on medium heat for 15 minutes.
  • For the pappardelle pasta: Make a bed of all-purpose flour, then make a well and add eggs. Fold all together, adding in more flour if needed, and knead until a dough ball is formed, then set aside and cover for 30 minutes.
  • Run dough through a pasta sheeter to form pappardelle pasta (broad flat noodles).
  • For the meatballs: Combine the beef, pork, veal, panko, Parmesan, salt, pepper and eggs in a bowl. Mixture should be on the drier side. If need be, add more panko. Form quarter-size meatballs. Heat a medium frying pan with oil and fry each meatball to a golden brown color.
  • For the pasta al forno: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Add sauce to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, along with the ricotta. Stir together, then add mozzarella and the meatballs. Let the cheese melt down.
  • Meanwhile, drop the pasta into boiling salted water for about 7 minutes. Strain and add to the baking dish. Mix around, then bake in oven for 10 minutes.

NONNA MARIA'S PASTA AL FORNO (PASTA IN THE OVEN)



Nonna Maria's Pasta Al Forno (Pasta in the Oven) image

If my mom wasn't making some kind of pasta laddled with sauce, it was Pasta al Forno, which simply means, Pasta in the Oven. It was my favorite and my dad's too, who may I add worked at a company called Miceli's Dairy. My dad always had access to the freshest cheese and ricotta. Sometimes still warm brought home. He worked...

Provided by Annamaria Settanni McDonald

Categories     Beef

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 lb ziti, penne or rigatoni pasta
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 salt
1/4 pepper
26 oz mids meat sauce or your favorite sauce or homemade
1 lb ground cooked beef mixed in to sauce. (optional)
15 oz ricotta cheese
7 slice deli ham, chopped
4 hard boiled eggs, chopped in chunks not finely
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c grated romano and parmesan cheese mixed
TOPPING
2 c shredded mozzarella

Steps:

  • 1. Cook pasta noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  • 2. Place olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Brown beef. Add pasta sauce, reduce heat to low and stir in noodles.
  • 3. Place ricotta, mozzarella, ham, parmesan, salt and pepper into a large bowl. Stir until well combined.
  • 4. Place ½ pasta into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spoon ricotta mixture evenly over pasta, covering entire dish. Sprinkle chopped eggs patting them down. Pour remaining pasta over cheese, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
  • 5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

NONNA'S BAKED ZITI - PASTA AL FORNO



Nonna's Baked Ziti - Pasta al Forno image

Nonna Romana's Baked Ziti or Pasta al Forno, is the perfect dish for a Sunday Dinner, a festivity or when you have company over.

Provided by rossella rago

Yield 4 Person(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

ground beef
crushed tomatoes
cloves garlic, chopped
small onion, chopped
bay leaves
fresh basil leaves
red wine
peperoncino
extra virgin olive oil
salt
ziti
grated Parmigiano cheese
fresh mozzarella, shredded
fresh mozzarella, cubed

Steps:

  • Prepare the Sauce: In a sauce pan, add the extra virgin olive oil, the onion, the garlic, the bay leaves, the peperoncino and the salt. Let everything saute until the garlic turns golden and the onion is translucent. Add the ground meat and brake it up so that it browns uniformly. Once the meat has browned, add the wine and let it evaporate. Add the chopped tomatoes and the basil. Let the sauce cook for 30 mins. Assemble the Dish: Pre-heat the oven at 450F Cook the ziti until they are half way done. Rinse the pasta under cold water. Take a baking pan and add 4 scoops of sauce at the bottom. Add half of the pasta and spread it evenly. Add another light coating of sauce followed by a generous sprinkle of cheese, followed by the shredded mozzarella. Add the other half of the ziti. Cover the ziti with a coating of sauce and Parmigiano cheese. Bake the dish for 20 mins. Remove from the oven, add the cubed mozzarella and continue baking for another 10 mins. Let the dish rest for about 15 mins. and serve.

PASTA AL FORNO



Pasta al Forno image

Nonna Susanna's recipe for meat sauce and pasta that is baked in the oven and great for using leftovers.

Provided by MKK

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h35m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
2 red onions, finely chopped
½ pound ground beef, or more to taste
½ pound bacon, chopped
¼ cup white wine, or as needed
2 (26 ounce) packages chopped tomatoes (such as Pomi®)
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
4 tablespoons white sugar, or more to taste
salt to taste
1 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta (such as Barilla®)
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste
⅓ pound chopped provolone cheese
⅓ pound chopped mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over low heat. Add onions and cook slowly until moisture has evaporated but onions are not dark brown, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and bacon. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently, until meat is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Pour wine into the skillet and cook until evaporated, 1 to 3 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Fill tomato paste can with water and pour in. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook sauce, uncovered, until oil no longer appears on the surface, about 30 minutes. Add sugar and salt; cook and stir until dissolved, about 3 minutes more.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta at a boil for about 5 minutes; drain and rinse with cold water. Return pasta to the pot and add a splash of olive oil to prevent sticking.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9x13-inch baking dishes.
  • Add about 1 cup sauce and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese to the pot with the cooked pasta.
  • Spoon a thin layer of pasta into each prepared baking dish. Top each with a thin layer of provolone and mozzarella cheeses. Add sauce. Repeat layers with remaining pasta, cheeses, and sauce; finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until hot and melted, 30 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 366.1 calories, Carbohydrate 41.8 g, Cholesterol 36.8 mg, Fat 12.5 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 19.2 g, SaturatedFat 5.7 g, Sodium 688.6 mg, Sugar 11 g

MEATBALL PASTA BAKE (PASTA AL FORNO)



Meatball pasta bake (pasta al forno) image

Make a comforting meatball pasta bake to feed the family. Inspired by Italian flavours and made with wholewheat pasta, it's a fabulous, filling meal

Provided by Good Food team

Categories     Dinner, Main course, Pasta, Supper

Time 1h

Yield Serves 4-6

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 large onion , ½ grated, ½ finely chopped
3 garlic cloves , crushed
400g beef mince
50g fresh breadcrumbs
3 tbsp milk
25g parmesan , finely grated
½ small bunch of parsley , finely chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
350g undefined
2 x 125g balls mozzarella , drained and cut into cubes

Steps:

  • Mix the grated onion, 1 crushed garlic clove, mince, breadcrumbs, milk, parmesan and parsley in a large bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. Mash the mixture together with your hands until combined. Mould the mix into small balls (about walnut-sized) with damp hands. There will be about 20 meatballs.
  • Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry the meatballs for 6-8 mins until golden brown all over. Fry in batches if you need to - they don't need to be cooked through, just browned on the outside. Set aside on a plate.
  • Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in the pan and fry the chopped onion for 5 mins until softened. Add the remaining garlic, fry for another minute, then add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for 10 mins until thickened and the tomatoes have broken down. Season well with salt and pepper.
  • Meanwhile, cook the pasta for 5 mins less than the pack instructions state, in boiling salted water. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
  • Stir the meatballs into the tomato sauce, adding a splash of water if too thick, and bring to a simmer. Drain the pasta and tip into an ovenproof dish. Pour over the sauce and meatballs and mix well. Stir in most of the mozzarella, then scatter the remaining over the top. Bake for 15-20 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling, and the top is slightly crisp.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 606 calories, Fat 28 grams fat, SaturatedFat 12 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 52 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 8 grams fiber, Protein 33 grams protein, Sodium 0.7 milligram of sodium

PASTA ALLA NORMA



Pasta alla Norma image

This traditional Sicilian pasta dish of sautéed eggplant tossed with tomato sauce and topped with ricotta salata makes for a satisfying vegetarian dinner, and it can be thrown together in under an hour.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories     dinner, easy, lunch, pastas, main course

Time 45m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 1/2 pounds eggplant
Olive oil as needed (at least 1/2 cup)
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
3 or 4 dried chiles
1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, chopped (canned are fine; about 1 can)
1 teaspoon good dried oregano, or 1 tablespoon fresh
1 pound long pasta
1/2 cup chopped parsley or basil
1/2 cup grated ricotta salata (or in a pinch, pecorino Romano)

Steps:

  • Slice the eggplant about 1/2 inch thick. Cook in abundant olive oil, without crowding, sprinkling with salt and adding more oil as needed. You will undoubtedly have to cook in batches; take your time and cook until the eggplant is nicely browned and soft. Remove to a plate; do not drain on paper towels. Meanwhile, put a large pot of water to boil and salt it.
  • At the end of the cooking the eggplant, the pan will ideally have a couple of tablespoons of oil left. If there's more or less, drain some off or add a bit. Turn the heat to medium, add the garlic and chiles, and cook until the garlic colors a little bit. Add the tomatoes and oregano, along with some salt and pepper; cook until saucy but not too dry, stirring occasionally.
  • Cook the pasta until tender but not mushy. While it's cooking, cut the eggplant into strips and reheat for a minute in the tomato sauce. Drain the pasta and toss it with the tomato sauce and the eggplant. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then top with the parsley or basil and grated cheese and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 418, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 70 grams, Fat 9 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 16 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 757 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams

Tips:

  • Use a deep baking dish to ensure the pasta is evenly cooked and the sauce doesn't boil over.
  • Cook the pasta al dente before baking to prevent it from becoming mushy.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of pasta. Short pasta shapes like penne and macaroni work well, but you can also use longer shapes like spaghetti or fettuccine.
  • Use a flavorful sauce that will complement the pasta. A simple tomato sauce or a creamy Alfredo sauce are both good options.
  • Add plenty of cheese to the pasta before baking. This will help to create a golden brown crust and make the pasta extra cheesy.
  • Bake the pasta in a preheated oven to ensure it cooks evenly.
  • Let the pasta cool for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Conclusion:

Pasta al forno is a delicious and versatile dish that is perfect for any occasion. With a few simple tips, you can easily make a pasta al forno that will impress your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give pasta al forno a try. You won't be disappointed!

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