Description
Honeycomb pasta brings Italian culinary artistry to your table with its mesmerizing hexagonal design. Delicate pasta tubes interlock like architectural wonders, promising a delightful sensory experience that will enchant you with each carefully crafted bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) manicotti pasta
- 8 ounces (226 grams) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
- ½ cup (50 grams) parmesan cheese, grated
Herbs and Spices:
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Additional Ingredients:
- ½ shallot, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 egg
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a precise 375°F, preparing for a culinary transformation.
- Carefully shred the mozzarella, reserving a portion for the final flourish.
- Initiate pasta preparation by boiling salted water, cooking noodles for exactly 5 minutes until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and immediately cool under gentle running water to halt the cooking process.
- Meticulously slice each noodle in half, creating uniform lengths for a symmetrical pasta construction.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, shallot, egg, and aromatic herbs and spices, whisking until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Transfer the creamy mixture into a piping bag, ensuring easy and precise filling.
- Prepare a 9″ springform pan with a light non-stick spray, then spread a thin layer of pasta sauce across the bottom.
- Artfully arrange pasta noodles vertically, creating a honeycomb-like structure that fills the entire pan.
- Carefully pipe the herbed cheese mixture into each pasta tube, filling to the brim with decadent filling.
- Generously drench the assembled pasta with remaining sauce, then crown with the reserved mozzarella.
- Bake on the center oven rack for 20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Carefully remove the springform pan’s sides and garnish with fresh, vibrant basil leaves.
Notes
- Prep this stunning pasta “pie” ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake for convenient meal planning.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, creamy cheese filling that blends perfectly.
- Choose thick, sturdy pasta noodles like rigatoni or ziti that can stand upright and hold filling securely.
- Enhance flavor by mixing different cheeses like fontina or gruyere with the recommended ricotta and mozzarella.
- Allow the pasta to rest 10 minutes after baking to help it set and make slicing easier without falling apart.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and reheated in the oven at 350°F for best texture restoration.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 517
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 505 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 82 mg