Baked Rigatoni Cake

Submitted by Chef #354339

"From Martha Stewart"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 50mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Yields: 1 9-inch cake
• Serves: 8-10

ingredients

• salt
• 1 lb rigatoni pasta, 453 . 59g
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb ground meat (beef, pork, or turkey)
• 2 garlic, minced
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1 (28 ounce) crushed tomatoes
• butter, for pan
• 1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 8 ounces coarsely grated mozzarella cheese

directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees;. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Add pasta; cook until slightly underdone. Drain, rinse in cold water, and drain. Toss pasta with 1 tablespoon oil to coat. Set aside.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add meat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Cook 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes; simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes.
3. Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Toss pasta with Parmesan cheese. Tightly pack pasta into pan, standing each piece on end.
4. Spread 2 cups meat sauce on top of pasta, pushing it into holes. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle mozzarella on top. Bake until cheese is pale golden, 10 to 15 minutes more. Remove from oven, and let stand 15 minutes. Run a knife around edge to loosen; unmold. Cut into wedges. Serve with remaining sauce.

Reviews

[ColoradoCooking]

My friends and I have group dinner, where we all make the same recipe. We made this when it first came out and have been making every since. Great for company or when it’s just the two of us, I make a smaller version using a smaller springform. I add some flavor to the meat sauce, red wine (1 cup), Italian seasoning, crused red pepper, extra garlic and parmesan cheese. As for stuffing the noodles, I just use the back of a spoon and go back and forth until all goes down the noodles. Easy and it doesn’t matter if every noodle is full because you have extra sauce for serving on the side. This makes a wonderful company dish.

 

[mickeydownunder]

Leave it to Martha Stewart to find the time to do! Placing rigatona on end, packing it in made GREAT presentation too! FUN for the kids, suggest you do! Psssst...Here's a secret...I had FUN making, TRUE!