Baked Macaroni Gratin is a first course with a short pasta shape and a rich and flavorful sauce for a simple yet very appetizing dish!
Baked first courses are highly appreciated dishes that can be prepared in advance and then baked just before the meal.
Casseroles, pies, timbales… so many ways to define dishes that are mouthwatering just by naming them because they tell of steaming pasta well seasoned with a delicious crust and full of flavor and taste!
I also suggest these baked gratin first courses:
SAUCE PASTA CAKE
CANNELLONI WITH MORTADELLA, RICOTTA, AND PISTACHIOS
EMILIAN ROLL
BAKED MACARONI GRATIN
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 5 Minutes
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 2/3
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, and Spring
Ingredients for BAKED MACARONI GRATIN
- 7 oz macaroni
- 1 package mozzarella
- 3.5 oz cooked ham (in strips or cubes)
- 1 cup béchamel sauce
- 1 tomato (ripe round)
- 3 champignon mushrooms
- to taste grana cheese (grated)
- to taste butter
- to taste breadcrumbs
- to taste salt and pepper
Tools for BAKED MACARONI GRATIN
- Knives
- Baking Dishes
PREPARATION FOR BAKED MACARONI GRATIN
Wash and thinly slice the champignon mushrooms and do the same with the ripe tomatoes.
Boil the macaroni or other short pasta in plenty of salted boiling water.
Drain them 3/4 minutes before cooking time and cool them quickly by stirring with a spatula or spoon for a few minutes.
In a large bowl, put the béchamel sauce, the chopped cooked ham, and the diced mozzarella.
Mix the ingredients well, adjusting for salt and pepper.
Also, add the al dente macaroni, mixing well with the other ingredients.
Butter a baking dish and sprinkle it with breadcrumbs, removing the excess.
Pour part of the macaroni mixed with ham, béchamel, and mozzarella into the dish, leveling it well.
Add a few slices of champignon mushrooms, reserving a few pieces.
Finish placing the seasoned pasta in the dish, then add the remaining tomato and champignons.
Sprinkle everything with grated grana cheese, adding a few knobs of butter on the pasta.
Bake at 356°F for about 20 minutes, then leave for another 3/4 minutes in grill mode to gratin the pasta.
Let it cool for 3/4 minutes, then serve the seasoned macaroni gratin at the table!
Enjoy your meal!
Annalisa
