Stelline Wreath

The Stelline Wreath is an aesthetic and indulgent dish that can be served during the holidays. It is essentially a star-shaped baked pasta that can be made with various ingredients to fill it; for example, it can be vegetarian or contain meat. Here I propose a simple and delicious version.

Ingredients

• 400 g stelline-shaped pasta or other short pasta
• 250 g ricotta
• 100 g fresh spinach
• 100 g diced cooked ham
• 150 g mozzarella
• 50 g grated Parmesan
• 2 eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Nutmeg to taste
• Butter for greasing the pan

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and grease a star-shaped pan with butter.
2. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water until al dente, then drain and let it cool.
3. While the pasta cooks, lightly sauté the spinach in a pan until wilted, then let it cool and chop it.
4. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta with the eggs, Parmesan, salt, pepper and a grating of nutmeg.
5. Add the chopped spinach, diced cooked ham and mozzarella cut into cubes. Mix everything well.
6. Gently fold the cooked pasta into the ricotta mixture and transfer everything to the star-shaped pan.
7. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the surface is nicely golden.
8. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Trivia

This recipe is a variation of traditional baked pasta, perfect for making the presentation more festive on special occasions. The fun lies in customizing the ingredients to suit tastes and needs: for example, you can opt for a completely vegetarian filling or enrich the mixture with other types of cheese or vegetables. The star shape adds a magical touch that delights both adults and children!