RECIPES
Stuffed Baked Rigatoni Recipe
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Stuffed Baked Rigatoni Recipe
Ingredients:
- Rigatoni pasta: 1 lb (500g)
- Ground beef or Italian sausage: 1 lb (500g)
- Onion: 1 medium, finely chopped
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Marinara sauce: 2 cups
- Ricotta cheese: 1 cup
- Mozzarella cheese: 1 cup, shredded
- Parmesan cheese: ½ cup, grated
- Egg: 1
- Fresh parsley: 2 tbsp, chopped
- Salt and pepper: To taste
- Olive oil: 2 tbsp
- Red pepper flakes (optional): ¼ tsp
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta:
- Boil the rigatoni in salted water until slightly undercooked (al dente). Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the meat filling:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent.
- Add the garlic and sauté for a minute.
- Stir in the ground beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Mix in 1 cup of marinara sauce, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Mix the cheese filling:
- In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, ½ cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and half the chopped parsley. Mix well.
- Stuff the pasta:
- Use a small spoon or piping bag to stuff each rigatoni with the cheese filling.
- Assemble the dish:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce at the bottom of a baking dish.
- Arrange the stuffed rigatoni in a single layer.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the pasta.
- Top with the meat mixture and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Bake:
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Garnish and serve:
- Sprinkle the remaining parsley over the baked pasta and serve warm.