Pasta al forno facts for kids
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| Place of origin | Italy |
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| Region or state | Calabria, Sicily |
Pasta al forno means "baked pasta" in Italian. It's a yummy dish from Italian cuisine. It's made with pasta, often short kinds. The pasta is mixed with creamy bechamel sauce. It also has tasty tomato sauce and lots of cheese. Then, it's all cooked in the oven until golden.
Contents
A Taste of History
Baked pasta has a long history in Italy. It can be split into two main types. One type uses béchamel sauce. This version started in the Renaissance courts of Central and Northern Italy. It was a simpler version of meat pies. Famous dishes like baked lasagna and cannelloni likely came from this idea.
The other type is called pasta 'nfurnata. This is a very popular dish in Sicily. It comes from ancient traditions. It's similar to fancy timbales. These were brought to Sicily by Arabs around the 800s. The word timballo also comes from this time.
How to Make Pasta al Forno
To make this dish, many kinds of short pasta are used. Some common types are rigatoni, penne, tortiglioni, ziti, and maccheroni. In Messina, they often use a pasta called maccheroncini. In Palermo, they use anelletti. This makes the dish look like a round cake or timballo.
Preparing the Pasta and Sauce
First, the pasta is cooked al dente. This means it's still a bit firm. It will finish cooking in the oven. The cooked pasta is then mixed well with the sauce.
Next, you spread a thin layer of sauce in a baking pan. Then, you add layers of pasta and other ingredients. These ingredients change based on local traditions.
To make a good pasta al forno, you need a tasty sauce. This sauce is usually made with minced beef or pork. The meat is first cooked with chopped onion. Then, it's seasoned with herbs, salt, and pepper. A splash of red wine is added. Finally, tomato sauce is mixed in. The sauce simmers for about 30 minutes. This helps it get a rich flavor.
Building the Layers
The layers are filled with classic ingredients. These often include provola or caciocavallo cheese. Sliced cooked ham or salami are also common. Sometimes, you'll find Calabrian schiacciata or soppressata. Sliced hard-boiled eggs are a must. And don't forget the fried meatballs!
After all the layers are in, a final layer of pasta goes on top. Then, lots of grated Parmesan cheese is sprinkled over everything. This helps the dish get a crispy, golden-brown top. This process is called gratinatura.
Sicilian Style
The Sicilian version is called pasta ncasciata. It often includes eggplants. These are usually cut into thin slices and fried. Sometimes, they are cut into cubes instead.
There are many ways to make baked pasta. Some versions use white sauces. These sauces might have onion and minced meat. Or they might use béchamel sauce. White sauces are often used with vegetables. For example, they go well with artichokes or radicchio.
Other projects
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See also
In Spanish: Pasta al horno para niños
