Baked Pasta with Mozzarella and Tomato

Baked Pasta with Mozzarella and Tomato is a classic Italian dish, ideal for family gatherings. Here is the recipe you can follow to prepare this tasty dish.

Ingredients

• 500 g short pasta (such as rigatoni or penne)
• 400 g canned peeled tomatoes
• 200 g mozzarella
• 100 g grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 small onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• Fresh basil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Start by preheating the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a large skillet, sauté the finely chopped onion and garlic in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. When they become translucent, add the peeled tomatoes previously crushed. Season with salt and pepper and let cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes until the sauce thickens. At the end of cooking, add the basil torn by hand.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in plenty of salted water following the times indicated on the package but stopping cooking a few minutes early (the pasta should be al dente, as it will continue cooking in the oven).
4. Drain the pasta and mix it with the tomato sauce. Add the mozzarella cut into cubes and part of the Parmigiano, stirring well to distribute the ingredients.
5. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, level the surface, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmigiano.
6. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the surface becomes golden and crispy.
7. Let it rest for a few minutes out of the oven before serving.

For an even more Italian touch, you could add a few fresh basil leaves on top of the pasta before serving for intense flavor and aroma! Enjoy your meal!