1poundrigatoni or ziti pastaplus reserved pasta water
1tablespoonolive oil
½onionfinely chopped
1poundsground pork sausage
6ouncesItalian sausageor 2 Italian sausage links, casings removed
3cups1 24oz jar or can tomato puree or passata
3basil leavestorn
1teaspoonsaltor to taste, plus extra for salting pasta cooking water
½teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
2cupsmozzarella cheesefreshly grated from a block of cheese
1cupparmigiano cheesefreshly grated
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and cook until softened. Add ground pork and Italian sausage (casing removed), breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned.
Pour in tomato puree (passata). Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.
Simmer the sauce for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add the basil during last 5 minutes of cooking.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions until 3 minutes before al dente (it will keep cooking in the oven). Drain pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
Assemble Pasta al Forno: Combine the cooked rigatoni and reserved pasta water in the pan with the meat sauce (if the pan isn't large enough, mix in a large bowl). Stir well to combine. It will be saucy with the extra pasta water.
Add 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of the parmigiano cheese and stir to combine.
Add the pasta mixture into the prepared pan and finish with the remaining mozzarella and parmigiano cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top is golden brown.
Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.
Serve and enjoy your authentic Italian Pasta al Forno!
Notes
Al Dente Pasta: Cook the pasta al dente (firm to the bite) before baking to ensure it maintains a good texture during the final baking.
Flavorful Meat Sauce: Take time to develop the flavors in the meat sauce. Simmering with herbs and spices enhances the overall taste.
Freshly Grated Cheese: Grate the mozzarella and parmigiano cheese fresh from the block for optimal melt and flavor. Pre-shredded cheese may contain anti-caking agents that affect texture.