Baked Macaroni with Marinara

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There are different ways to make baked Macaroni. I like to bake elbow Macaroni in marinara sauce with Parmesan cheese and then top it with Mozzarella cheese and bread crumbs. I have used wheat Macaroni for this dish to make it healthier. .....

Baked Macaroni with Marinara

Ingredients
(serves 4)

 

20-25 minutes preparation and cooking time + about 25 minutes for baking


For Pasta:

  • Elbow Macaroni 200gms
  • Water about 5-6 cups to boil the pasta
  • Salt 2 tsp

For Marinara Sauce:

  • Red Roma tomatoes 4 medium 450 gms/ 1 pound
  • *Red onion 2 tbsp minced
  • Salt ½ tsp
  • Black pepper, Freshly ground to taste
  • Olive oil 2 tbsp

To Bake:

  • Parmesan cheese ½ cup, grated
  • Mozzarella cheese ¾ cup, grated

*Traditional Italian recipe calls for 1 minced garlic clove; since I do not use garlic in my cooking, I have used red onion instead.

Method of preparation

  1. Boil about 5-6 cups of water in a big pan. Add 2 tsp salt and Macaroni in the boiling water.
  2. Boil until Macaroni are soft but firm. Usually it takes about 5-6 minutes to boil Macaroni. Drain lightly.
cooked macaroni
boiled Macaroni
  1. Wash and boil the tomatoes for 2 minutes. Let the tomatoes cool down. Now take the skin off, and cut the tomatoes in half. Scoop out the seeds of the tomatoes, and dice the tomatoes.
  2. Heat olive oil in a pan/ wok. Add minced onions. Sauté for about 2 minutes or until onions are golden.
  3. Now add chopped tomatoes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in the sautéed onions.
sauce
marinara sauce making
  1. Mix well and let it cook on medium to low heat for about 10-15 minutes or until the sauce is thick and smooth.
  2. Now add boiled macaroni in the sauce. Toss well until Macaroni are well coated with the sauce. Adjust the amount of salt, and pepper to taste.
sauce
  1. Now add parmesan cheese . Mix well and turn off the heat.
sauce
After adding Parmesan cheese in Macaroni
  1. Pre heat oven at 350 F.
  2. Grease the baking dish . Now transfer the Macaroni in a baking dish. I like to use samll baking dishes which can be served individually.
sauce
Macaroni in small baking dish
  1. Spread grated Mozzarella cheese evenly on top of the macaroni. You can also spread a fine layer of bread crumbs .
sauce
After spreading Mozzarella chesse
  1. Bake until the the top is nicely browned. It takes about 25-30 minutes to bake Macaroni.
sauce
well baked Macaroni

Tips/ Suggestions

You can assemble the dish until step 11, keep it in the refrigerator after covering the dish with an aluminium foil, and bake it later when you need it.

While pasta is boiling you can make sauce on the other burner to save time.

In traditional Italian cooking minced garlic is used ; since I do not use garlic in my cooking I have used red onion instead.

Parmesan is known as Parmigiano-Reggiano chesse in Italy.

You can also use some other variety of small pasta if you do not find Macaroni.

Some other Italian dishes