Pasta al forno, or baked macaroni, is a classic Italian dish that is perfect for a hearty and satisfying meal. It is made with layers of pasta, a creamy béchamel sauce, and a flavorful meat sauce, topped with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese and baked until golden brown. This dish is a great way to use up leftover pasta and meat sauce, and it is also a popular dish to serve at potlucks and parties.
This article provides two recipes for pasta al forno: a traditional recipe and a vegetarian recipe. The traditional recipe uses ground beef and pork in the meat sauce, while the vegetarian recipe uses a combination of mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers. Both recipes are easy to follow and can be made in under an hour.
In addition to the two main recipes, the article also includes a recipe for a simple béchamel sauce and a recipe for a homemade tomato sauce. These sauces can be used in the pasta al forno recipes, or they can be used as standalone sauces for other dishes.
Whether you are looking for a traditional Italian dish or a vegetarian option, this article has the perfect pasta al forno recipe for you. So what are you waiting for? Grab your ingredients and start cooking!
PASTA AL FORNO (BAKED PASTA THE ITALIAN WAY)
This recipe is based on my Sicilian mother-in-law's version of pasta al forno. It's rich and tasty and perfect for when you have a large number to feed!
Provided by Jacqueline Debono
Categories Main Course
Time 2h
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Chop the carrot, onion, garlic and celery finely.
- Fry the vegetables in olive oil until they are softening. Be careful not to allow them to burn!
- Add the minced meat and cook until browned.
- Then add the tomato concentrate and stir well
- Add the glass of wine and stir well again
- When the wine has evaporated pour in the tomato pulp and mix it in well with the meat.
- Add the basil leaves and salt and pepper as required.
- Cover the sauce and allow to simmer on a low heat for at least an hour, stirring occasionally so it doesn't stick. If it gets too thick add some water.
- 15 minutes before the sauce is ready add the peas.
- Put salted water on to boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta 2-3 minutes less than instructed on the packet. Strain and add the pasta to the meat sauce when it is ready.
- Mix the pasta and sauce well and allow to cool.
- Put a layer of pasta with sauce on the bottom of an oven dish.
- Make another layer with thick pieces of mozzarella.
- Add another layer of pasta with meat sauce and again some mozzarella
- Finish with a layer of pasta.
- Sprinkle with parmesan and bake in a pre-heated oven 180-200° until the top layer starts to crisp (30-40 mins)
PASTA AL FORNO: OVEN BAKED PASTA
Provided by Food Network
Time 55m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. While the rigatoni cooks in salted boiling water, prepare the sauce. In a saucepan heat up the olive oil and saute the eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, chile peppers, if using, and garlic, for a few minutes. Add the tomato puree and salt. Let the sauce cook for approximately 10 minutes on medium heat. Drain the rigatoni; add the pasta to the saucepan, sprinkle with some Parmigiano and cook for another 30 seconds. Then place 1/2 the rigatoni in a baking dish, adding a layer of 1/2 the mozzarella, 1/2 the scamorza and another sprinkle of Parmigiano cheese over the pasta. Add the remaining rigatoni, and follow with a final layer of all the cheeses. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
PASTA AL FORNO
This is a great, Italian recipe. You can make it with meat or without for a vegetarian meal. Got it out of a magazine. Prep. time is more if your meat is not cooked.
Provided by WI Cheesehead
Categories Chicken
Time 45m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Coat 2 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta; drain; rinse with cold water.
- In bowl, combine marinara, mozzarella, spinach or broccoli, cottage cheese or ricotta, 6 T Parmesan, salt and pepper. Stir in pasta and chopped, cooked chicken (or ground beef); transfer to baking dish.
- Stir together bread crumbs, Parmesan and oil; sprinkle over pasta. Bake until hot, 25-30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 522.2, Fat 19.2, SaturatedFat 7.5, Cholesterol 65, Sodium 1207.7, Carbohydrate 54.5, Fiber 6.5, Sugar 14.8, Protein 32.1
PASTA AL FORNO
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
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
PASTA AL FORNO (BAKED MACARONI)
Make and share this Pasta Al Forno (Baked Macaroni) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by CookingONTheSide
Categories Cheese
Time 45m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix one cup of the sauce with the cooked macaroni.
- Mix the ricotta with 3/4 cup of grated cheese, parsley and egg.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and the red pepper flakes.
- Layer sauce on the bottom of a deep casserole.
- Add 1/3 of the pasta followed by 1/2 of the ricotta mixture.
- Sprinkle with 1/3 of the mozzarella.
- Put down a layer of sauce and repeat.
- Add the final layer of macaroni and top with sauce and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese.
- Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the casserole is bubbling and the cheese on top starts to brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 744.2, Fat 28.7, SaturatedFat 15.4, Cholesterol 117.8, Sodium 1191.1, Carbohydrate 84.2, Fiber 7, Sugar 17.9, Protein 35.5
Tips:
- Use a variety of cheeses. A combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, and ricotta is a classic, but you can also experiment with other cheeses like Gouda, Gruyère, or fontina.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it al dente, so it still has a slight bite to it.
- Make sure the sauce is thick enough. It should be able to coat the pasta evenly.
- Don't skimp on the cheese. A generous amount of cheese is what makes pasta al forno so rich and decadent.
- Bake the pasta until it's golden brown and bubbly. This will ensure that the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Let the pasta rest for a few minutes before serving. This will help the cheese to set.
Conclusion:
Pasta al forno is a delicious and versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. Experiment with different cheeses, sauces, and toppings to create your own unique recipe. Pasta al forno is the perfect dish for any occasion, whether you're feeding a crowd or just looking for a comforting meal to enjoy at home.
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