Description
This Ricotta & Parsley Paccheri is a delightful baked pasta dish featuring large paccheri tubes stuffed with a creamy ricotta, Parmesan, and fresh parsley mixture. Baked in savory tomato sauce and finished with olive oil and fresh basil, it offers a comforting and flavorful meal perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 500g paccheri pasta
Filling
- 250g ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce and Garnish
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the assembled pasta dish.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the paccheri in salted water according to package directions until just al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside to cool slightly for handling.
- Prepare Filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan, and beaten egg. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste, mixing well until smooth and creamy.
- Stuff Pasta: Using a spoon or piping bag, carefully fill each cooked paccheri tube with the ricotta and parsley mixture, ensuring each tube is fully stuffed.
- Assemble Dish: Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce at the bottom of a large oven-safe baking dish. Arrange the stuffed paccheri in a single layer over the sauce.
- Add Sauce and Oil: Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the arranged pasta and drizzle with olive oil evenly over the top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired, then serve the paccheri warm for a delicious and comforting meal.
Notes
- Ensure the pasta is cooked al dente to maintain shape during stuffing and baking.
- You can substitute the ricotta with cottage cheese for a different texture.
- For a richer flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg to the ricotta filling.
- Leftover baked paccheri can be refrigerated and reheated gently in the oven.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
