A comforting Southern Italian pasta featuring large paccheri tubes coated in a simple tomato and basil sauce, then finished with fresh mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano until beautifully melted.
Ingredients — Serves 4
- 400g paccheri pasta
- 700g tomato passata or whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
- 250g fresh mozzarella, well drained and diced
- 60g Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, lightly crushed
- 10–12 fresh basil leaves
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, optional
Instructions
1. Prepare the tomato sauce
Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook gently until fragrant without letting it brown.
Add the tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Simmer gently for 20–25 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove the garlic and add several torn basil leaves.
2. Cook the paccheri
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the paccheri and cook until about 2 minutes before al dente.
Drain the pasta, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water.
3. Combine
Add the paccheri directly to the tomato sauce. Toss gently over low heat for 1–2 minutes, adding a small splash of pasta water if necessary.
4. Add the cheese
Remove the skillet from direct heat. Add about half of the mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano and gently toss.
Transfer everything to a baking dish and scatter the remaining mozzarella and Parmigiano over the top.
5. Bake
Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 10–15 minutes, until the mozzarella has melted and the top is lightly golden and bubbling.
6. Serve
Allow the pasta to rest for about 5 minutes. Finish with fresh basil and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Chef’s Tip 🇮🇹
Drain the fresh mozzarella thoroughly before adding it. Too much moisture can make the tomato sauce watery. Also, slightly undercook the paccheri before baking so it stays pleasantly al dente.
Final result: Tender paccheri coated in rich tomato and basil sauce with pockets of melted mozzarella and savory Parmigiano — simple, cheesy Southern Italian comfort food. 🍅🌿🧀🍝
