Baked Rigatoni with Beef or Poultry Meatballs
From: Jane, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Servings: 6
IngredientsPreparation
  • 2 tablespoons [30 mL] olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups [750 mL] cleaned freshy sliced mushrooms
  • 1 sweet green pepper, membranes removed and seeded, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons [10 mL] basil
  • 1 teaspoon [5 mL] oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons [30 mL] water
  • 1 [28-ounce / 796-mL] can stewed tomatoes
  • 1 [5 1/2-ounce / 156-mL] can tomato paste
  • 3 1/2 cups [875 mL] rigatoni pasta noodles
  • 1 1/2 cups [340 g] grated Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup [60 g] grated Parmesan cheese
Meatballs Mixture
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup [80 mL] chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup [60 g] dry bread crumbs
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons [45 g] grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon [5 mL] oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 pound [454 g] ground beef, turkey or chicken
  • For the meatballs, into a medium bowl, slightly beat egg before mixing in chopped onion, dry bread crumbs, minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, oregano, salt and pepper until combined.
  • Mix in ground beef, turkey or chicken.
  • Shape mixture into small meatballs using a heaping tablespoon [15 mL] mixture for each meatball.
  • Set aside.
  • Heat olive oil into a large skillet.
  • A few at a time, brown meatballs on all side; remove from skillet.
  • Drain excess fat from skillet before adding chopped onion, minced garlic, mushroom slices, chopped sweet green pepper, basil, oregano, salt and pepper.
  • Stir in water.
  • Cook over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes, until vegetables are softened.
  • Stir in stewed tomatoes with juice, tomato paste and reserved browned meatballs.
  • Leave to simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, boil rigatoni pasta noodles pasta noodles until 'al dente', soft yet still a little crunchy.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F [200°C].
  • Drain pasta noodles.
  • Add drained pasta noodles to meatballs mixture stirring until combined.
  • Pour into a 2 1/2-quart [10-cup] casserole dish.
  • Sprinkle mixtrue all over with grated Mozzarella cheese, then with grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake into preheated oven for 20 minutes before serving.