Stuffed Paccheri al Forno

A tasty Italian pasta dish called "stuffed paccheri al forno" is made with big paccheri tubes that are stuffed with a creamy cheese mixture, baked in a rich tomato sauce, and topped with fresh basil.

Ingredients:

• 500g paccheri pasta
• 300g ricotta cheese
• 200g mozzarella cheese, diced
• 100g Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
• 400g tomato passata
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• Handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 180C 350F

Cook paccheri pasta according to package instructions until al dente

Drain and set aside

In a bowl, mix together ricotta, diced mozzarella, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Season with salt and pepper

Stuff cooked paccheri pasta with the cheese mixture

In a saucepan, heat some olive oil over medium heat

Add minced garlic and chopped onion

Cook until softened

Add tomato passata to the saucepan

Season with salt and pepper

Simmer for 10 minutes

Spread a layer of tomato sauce in a baking dish

Arrange stuffed paccheri in the dish

Pour remaining tomato sauce over the stuffed paccheri

Sprinkle chopped basil leaves on top

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes

Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden

Serve hot and enjoy!