Pasta Babbo Natale
A festive and creative take on a classic Italian pasta, this Pasta Babbo Natale is perfect for adding a touch of holiday spirit to your dining table. The combination of mini pipe rigate, mozzarella, and a rich tomato sauce is complemented by black olives and basil, creating a fun and delicious meal that will surely bring joy to everyone. This recipe is easy to follow and offers an imaginative way to present pasta, making it an excellent choice for family gatherings or a unique holiday dish.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Mini Pipe Rigate | 160g |
| Passata di Pomodoro (Tomato Sauce) | 250g |
| Mozzarella | 125g |
| Black Olives | 2 |
| Garlic | 1 clove |
| Fresh Basil | 3 leaves |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | q.b. |
| Fine Salt | q.b. |
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Sauce
To begin preparing Pasta Babbo Natale, heat a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil in a pan. Add a whole garlic clove and a few basil leaves to infuse the oil with fragrance. Sprinkle in some salt to taste and allow the mixture to simmer for about 25 minutes on low heat. This will create a rich, flavorful base for your sauce.
Step 2: Boil the Pasta
While the sauce is simmering, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the mini pipe rigate pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Once done, drain the pasta and set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Mozzarella and Olives
While the pasta cooks, cut the mozzarella into slices. From these slices, cut larger strips to resemble a stylized beard shape for the Babbo Natale (Santa Claus), and smaller, thinner pieces for the eyebrows. You can use a pastry bag with a smooth tip to gently press a small hole near the top edge of the larger mozzarella strips to simulate Santa’s mouth.
Next, cut the black olives in half. These will serve as the eyes for our Santa face.
Step 4: Assemble the Dish
Remove the garlic from the tomato sauce once it has infused its flavor. Now it’s time to assemble the pasta in individual cocottes (small, oven-safe dishes). Start by placing the larger mozzarella pieces in the bottom half of each cocotte to form the beard. Then, arrange the smaller strips of mozzarella horizontally in the upper half of the cocotte to represent the eyebrows.
Place the halved black olives between the two pieces of mozzarella to form the eyes. Add a teaspoon of the prepared tomato sauce on top of the mozzarella strips to simulate Santa’s hat.
Step 5: Bake
Preheat your oven to 240°C (about 464°F). Place the cocottes in the oven and bake for 4-5 minutes, or until the cheese forms a crispy, golden crust and the entire dish is heated through. The result will be an adorable and festive dish that looks just like Santa!
Serving Suggestions
Serve your Pasta Babbo Natale hot, straight from the cocottes. The pasta and tomato sauce provide a hearty base, while the mozzarella and olives add a creamy and flavorful touch. This dish is ideal for sharing with family or serving at holiday dinners, bringing both warmth and a smile to your table.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~450 kcal |
| Protein | ~18g |
| Carbohydrates | ~45g |
| Fats | ~25g |
| Fiber | ~3g |
| Sodium | ~450mg |
This delightful, festive pasta is as fun to make as it is to eat. The creative arrangement of ingredients, combined with the delicious flavors of fresh mozzarella, olives, and homemade tomato sauce, ensures that Pasta Babbo Natale will be the star of your holiday table.
