Perfect for a weekend evening, the recipe for pasta al forno.

Penne al forno or baked pasta

On the days when I want to make something quick and have no inspiration, I choose pasta. I choose them because I always have them at hand, because I can combine them with what I have in the fridge and because they are also family favorites... there is no pasta recipe that my daughter does not devour.

Once considered a fattening food, nowadays pasta is recognized as part of a healthy diet. Low in fat and rich in carbohydrates, they provide energy for a long period of time, a good fuel for all kinds of physical activities. However, the most nutritious are whole wheat pastas because they have a higher concentration of vitamins, minerals and fibers.

What I like most when I cook pasta is the fact that I can be as creative as I want, so I can combine them according to my taste and not necessarily follow a recipe. However, there are some rules that we can follow when choosing the type of pasta and the appropriate sauce:

• long pastas such as spaghetti or tagliatelle go better with slightly creamy or olive oil sauces
• hollow pasta, such as penne, fusilli, goes well with robust cheese, tomato or vegetable sauces

From the multitude of shapes and flavors, today I chose penne short pasta. And because I have often eaten pasta al forno at restaurants, I said I would try them at home. I added a pink sauce, some mushrooms and the pasta is ready, just good to put in the oven covered with a thick layer of mozzarella and parmesan. However, if you are on a diet, pay attention to the sauce used and the amount of cheese because they can turn the dish into one rich in fat, despite the fact that the pasta has a low fat content.

Ingredients

• 250g feathers
• 1 chicken breast
• 7-8 suitable mushrooms
• an onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• a can of peeled tomatoes
• 100g mozzarella
• 50g parmesan
• 3 tablespoons of oil
• salt
• pepper
• fresh or dried basil

Method of preparation

1. Bring a saucepan with enough water to the boil and cook the pasta al dente according to the cooking time indicated on the package. Don't forget to add salt to the boiling water to give the pasta a taste while cooking.
2. Cut the chicken breast into cubes and fry it in a deep pan with two to three tablespoons of oil.
3. Finely chop the onion and cut the mushrooms into slices.
4. Add the onion over the fried chicken breast and cook for a few minutes until the onion softens.
5. Next, add the sliced ​​mushrooms and the garlic passed through the press and leave on low heat until the water left by the mushrooms evaporates.
6. Add the peeled tomatoes, season with salt, pepper and basil and leave the mixture for a few minutes until the flavors blend and the sauce cooks.
7. On top of the tomato sauce prepared in this way, add the cooked and well-drained pasta.
8. Mix everything well so that the pasta absorbs as much sauce as possible, then pour everything into a ceramic dish or a thick-walled pan that can be placed in the oven.
9. On top of the pasta, add mozzarella and grated parmesan and put the pan in the preheated oven at 180 degrees for about 20-25 minutes, until they are nicely browned.

All in all, in about 40 minutes, you'll have a full, satisfying meal without a lot of work and time spent in the kitchen. Also, a portion of penne al forno with chicken and mushrooms can be the perfect dish for an evening in the company of friends or relatives.