Il Cucinologo
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Baked Pasta with Potatoes

17/11/2023

Baked pasta with potatoes is a rustic and hearty dish, perfect for a family meal. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

  • 500 g short pasta (such as rigatoni or penne)
  • 300 g potatoes
  • 250 g mozzarella (or scamorza), cut into cubes
  • 100 g grated Parmesan
  • 400 g tomato sauce
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 100 g smoked pancetta (optional), cut into cubes
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil (optional)
  • Butter for the baking dish

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
  2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into about 1 cm cubes. Boil them in salted water for about 10 minutes, until they are almost cooked but still slightly firm. Drain and set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, sauté the onion and garlic in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. If using pancetta, add it at this stage and let it brown.
  4. Add the tomato sauce to the skillet, adjust with salt and pepper, and let it cook for about 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
  5. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water for half the time indicated on the package (the pasta should be very al dente as it will continue cooking in the oven). Drain the pasta and place it in a large bowl.
  6. Add the boiled potatoes, tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil torn by hand, and half of the grated Parmesan to the pasta. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
  7. Butter a baking dish and pour in the pasta mixture, leveling the surface evenly.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the surface.
  9. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the surface is nicely golden and crispy.
  10. Let the baked pasta with potatoes rest for a few minutes before serving, so it sets and is easier to slice.

Trivia

This variation of baked pasta with potatoes is a fusion of two classic Italian comfort foods: baked pasta and baked potatoes. It’s a dish that lends itself to customization, so feel free to add other ingredients to your liking, such as sausage cut into pieces, peppers cut into strips, or zucchini cut into cubes to enrich the dish.