I love to cook and if there’s one thing that I’ve learned over years of trying different recipes, it’s that quality ingredients make all the difference when it comes to taking a recipe from good to great. Pasta has always been one of my favourite meals to cook because it’s perfect for both quick and easy dinners or gourmet creations and for great results every time, Barilla pasta is a must in my house.
Recently, Barilla sent me a fantastic package containing a variety of pasta, some fun recipe ideas and a copy of the cookbook Made in Italy by David Rocco! As a huge fan of Italian food, I couldn’t wait to try out a few of the recipes, and this Pasta Al Forno was one dish that the entire family loved.

David Rocco’s Barilla Pasta Al Forno
A hearty, vegetable-packed pasta casserole.
Ingredients
- 1 lb 500g BARILLA® Rigatoni
- 4 tbs 60ml extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 large eggplant cubed
- 15 infornate olives or any black olives pitted and chopped
- 10 large sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 2 dried chili peppers crushed (optional)
- Salt
- 3 cups 750mL tomato purée
- 3/4 lb 375g mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Smoked scamorza cheese roughly chopped
- Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for sprinkling
Instructions
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Cook the pasta in boiling water.
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Heat up a saucepan over medium-high heat.
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Pour in the extra-virgin olive oil and cook garlic until browned.
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Make sure the oil is hot before adding the eggplant, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and chili peppers. Sauté the whole thing until the eggplant is soft and slightly golden.
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Once the eggplant is golden, add some salt and the tomato purée. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes or until the pasta is ready.
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Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add all the sauce, mozzarella and scamorza cheeses. Stir together well.
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Pour the whole thing into a large baking dish. Top with a good sprinkle of Parmigiano and bake in a 400°F (200°C) oven for about 30 minutes or until beautifully golden and crisp.
If you’d like to try a new pasta recipe or two as well, Barilla wants to help you get inspired with a fabulous giveaway! One lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader is going to win a prize pack containing an assortment of Barilla PLUS, Gluten Free and Classic pasta and a copy of Made in Italy by David Rocco, a $50 total value! To enter to win, just leave a blog comment about your favourite pasta dish.
Whether I’m cooking up a meal for a gluten-free friend, trying to add extra nutrition to a simple supper for my boys or recreating one of my mom’s classic pasta dishes, Barilla has a variety of pasta products that guarantee great results. Give the products a try for yourself and see how fun and easy delicious pasta meals can be!
joy says
macaroni and cheese 🙂
tanyab79 says
It’s a dish I make which I am not sure the name of. You have chicken, bacon, peppers, onions, spices and chicken broth along with your noodle of choice. Yum yum.
Tracy D says
I love spaghetti with homemade meat sauce!
Carol M says
Spaghetti with meat sauce among many
Valerie Mallette says
My favourite pasta dish is macaroni and cheese.
ivy pluchinsky says
my favorite pasta dish is spaghetti or lasasgna
Millie Bittman says
My entire family love pasta dishes and I like to try different pastas. My favorite pasta dish would be Lasagna with mac and cheese a close 2nd
Vesper Meikle says
we love lasagna
Anne Taylor says
I love a good home made lasagna!
Roxanna Leeson says
Spaghetti & Meatballs All The Way! =)
lynn clayton says
BAKED RIGATONI WITH CHEESE
Florence C says
Can’t beat old fashion Mac and cheese.
Lee-Ann S says
I’m a sucker for lasagna.
Debbie F says
I like Spaghetti and with hot Italian sausage.
Gizele says
My favourite pasta dish is lasagna.
Juliee Fitze says
My favorite is lasagna with white sauce.
Patrick Siu says
i like spaghetti with meatballs
Gina says
my favorite recipes are simple homemade Italian favorites like the pasta al forno. I also love David’s lasagna recipes.
MaryG. says
My favorite pasta dish is lasagna…the best comfort food ever! It’s also great to sneak in lots of veggies for the kids to eat 😉
Belinda McNabb says
My favorite pasta dish is lasagna
Elaine G says
My favorite is lasagna
Carole B. says
grilled veggies lasagna is my favorite dish
Heidi Pawluk says
Spaghetti, shrimp, red peppers, garlic, green onions & sauce..so delicious ♥ Love it
Dayna Wilson says
I love spinach and ricotta cannelloni!
Wanda Tracey says
My favorite pasta dish is spaghetti and meatballs with mushrooms peppers and onions.
William Stewart says
Any noodles and pesto!
Lynda Cook says
I love a good homemade mac and cheese
Victoria Ess says
I love making pasta and meat sauce.
409cope says
My favorite dish is lasagna.
Silvia D says
My favourite Pasta dish is Lasagne, we add pepperoni to it and so goood!
Francine says
spaghettini with bolognese sauce
Jolie says
I love lasagna,
Athena says
Manicotti
zahra p says
My fav is pesto pasta with chicken
Shelley N says
My favourite pasta dish is lasagna
aarone mawdsley says
i like seafood fettucine with garlic!
heidi c. says
I love Pasta Primavera with shrimp!
kristen visser says
My favorite pasta dish is your typical spaghetti and meatballs with a rose sauce
Maureen Anderson says
lasagna
Natasha Kravtsov says
Spaghetti Carbonara
Tina L. says
I love lasagna
Erika Letson says
Spaghetti and meatballs with lots of cheese!
lori b says
i love stuffed shells
Dianne says
Lasagna is my favourite pasta dish.
Jeannie says
I love a good shrimp scampi pasta dish
CYNTHIA MATHESON says
CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
maria says
I love linguine with chicken and pesto
sarah sar says
I love butternut squash ravioli!
Amy C says
I like pasta and cheese whiz mixed together.
Doris Calvert says
I like Manacotti