Honeycomb Pasta Cake Bake (Print)
Rigatoni baked upright with ricotta, tomato sauce, and gooey cheese for a show-stopping main dish.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb rigatoni
→ Cheese Filling
02 - 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
03 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
04 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
11 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
12 - 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
13 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - ½ teaspoon dried basil
16 - ½ teaspoon sugar
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ To Assemble
18 - 2 tablespoons olive oil for greasing and brushing
19 - Extra fresh parsley for garnish
20 - Additional grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan with olive oil and line the base with parchment paper.
02 - Cook rigatoni in a large pot of salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain, toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and set aside.
03 - Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning as needed.
04 - Combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until fully blended and smooth.
05 - Arrange rigatoni upright in the prepared pan. Using a piping bag or small spoon, fill each pasta tube with the ricotta mixture.
06 - Evenly pour the tomato sauce over the filled pasta, allowing it to seep between the noodles. Top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella.
07 - Cover pan loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
08 - Let rest for 10 minutes before releasing the springform pan. Garnish with extra parsley and grated Parmesan. Slice and serve.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Beautiful presentation makes it perfect for dinner parties
- Satisfying layers of pasta, cheese, and savory tomato sauce for comfort and flavor
02 -
- Add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage for a hearty, meaty version
- A pinch of red pepper flakes adds a spicy kick to the tomato sauce
03 -
- Use a piping bag for easiest filling and neat pasta tubes
- Let rest 10 minutes before slicing for best presentation