Description
Honeycomb pasta bake brings Italian comfort to dinner tables with layered elegance. Creamy cheeses, rich marinara, and crisp pasta edges combine for a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz (450 g) manicotti pasta
- 15 oz (425 g) ricotta cheese
- 8 oz (225 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 cups (480 ml) marinara sauce
- ½ cup (50 g) parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 egg
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ shallot, minced (about 1 tbsp)
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack centrally and preheat to 375°F (190°C) while gathering all ingredients and equipment.
- Pasta Foundation: Cook pasta in generously salted water for 5 minutes until slightly firm, then drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process. Slice noodles horizontally to create uniform lengths.
- Cheese Mixture Creation: Thoroughly blend ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, shallot, egg, oregano, garlic powder, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes into a smooth, well-integrated filling. Transfer mixture to a piping bag or sealed plastic bag with a trimmed corner.
- Pan Assembly: Coat a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick spray, spreading a thin pasta sauce layer on the bottom. Carefully arrange pasta noodles vertically in a tight, honeycomb-like configuration.
- Filling and Sauce: Pipe cheese mixture completely into each pasta tube, ensuring thorough coverage. Pour remaining pasta sauce over noodles, creating an even, saturated layer. Generously sprinkle reserved mozzarella across the top.
- Baking and Finishing: Bake for 20 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden. Allow 5 minutes of resting time after removing from oven. Gently release springform pan sides and garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- Prep Pasta Precisely: Slightly undercook pasta to prevent mushiness during baking, ensuring perfect texture when fully cooked.
- Pack Noodles Tightly: Arrange pasta vertically with minimal gaps to create a stable honeycomb structure that holds the cheese filling.
- Fill Completely: Pipe cheese mixture thoroughly into each pasta tube, avoiding air pockets for a consistent, creamy result.
- Customize Seasonings: Adjust red pepper flakes and garlic levels to match personal taste preferences without compromising the recipe’s core flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg