Pasta al forno
Pasta al forno is a comforting Italian baked pasta dish layered with rich meat sauce, creamy béchamel, and gooey cheese. Perfect for festive gatherings, it's a hearty meal that brings everyone together around the table.
Italian · 90 min · 6 servings · Sara R.
Ingredients
- 400 g pasta, rigatoni or ziti
- 300 g ground beef
- 200 g ground pork
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 800 g canned tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- a handful fresh basil, chopped
- 250 g mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 100 g Parmesan cheese, grated
- 500 ml milk
- 50 g butter
- 50 g flour
- to taste nutmeg, grated
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened.
- Add the ground beef and pork, cooking until browned. Stir in the canned tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and basil. Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add milk, whisking until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- In a large baking dish, layer half the pasta, followed by half the meat sauce, half the béchamel, and half the mozzarella. Repeat the layers, finishing with béchamel and Parmesan on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until golden and bubbling.