Italian cuisine has captured the hearts and taste buds of food enthusiasts worldwide. From pizzas to gelato, the culinary wonders of Italy continue to fascinate and inspire. Among the many beloved dishes, one pasta variety stands out for its unique shape and versatility: Paccheri pasta.
Paccheri, with its wide tubes and smooth texture, is a pasta that showcases the essence of Italian comfort food. In this article, we dive into the world of Paccheri pasta, exploring its origins, cooking techniques, recipe ideas, and its place in both traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine.
The Origins and Characteristics
Tracing the Origins of Paccheri Pasta
Paccheri is believed to have originated in the Campania region of southern Italy. With its roots in Neapolitan cuisine, this pasta has a rich history dating back centuries. Its name is derived from the Italian word “pacca,” meaning slap, which refers to the sound made when sauce fills the hollow tubes.
The Unique Shape and Texture
What sets Paccheri pasta apart is its distinctive shape and texture. These large, cylindrical tubes have a diameter of about one inch, allowing them to capture and hold rich sauces. The pasta is made from durum wheat semolina, giving it a smooth and firm texture that holds up well when cooked.
Perfect Pairings with Sauces and Fillings
Paccheri pasta’s generous size and hollow interior make it an ideal vessel for various sauces and fillings. It pairs exceptionally well with hearty and robust sauces like ragù, Bolognese, or seafood-based sauces. The tubes can also be stuffed with delicious fillings, such as ricotta and spinach, creating a delightful culinary experience.
Cooking with Paccheri:
Boiling and Cooking Time
To cook Paccheri pasta to perfection, it is important to follow the proper boiling and cooking time. Boil the pasta in salted water until it reaches al dente, which ensures a slight bite and maintains its texture. Overcooking can result in a mushy consistency, so it’s essential to monitor the cooking time closely.
Creative Recipes to Try
Paccheri pasta’s versatility extends beyond traditional pairings. It can be used in various creative recipes that showcase its unique shape and ability to hold fillings. From Paccheri alla Norma, a Sicilian delight with eggplant and ricotta salata, to Paccheri with creamy mushroom sauce, there are endless possibilities to explore.
Paccheri Variations:
Traditional Paccheri
The classic Paccheri pasta is a testament to the simplicity and elegance of Italian cuisine. It is typically served with flavorful tomato-based sauces or tossed with fresh ingredients like cherry tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella for a lighter and refreshing option.
Stuffed Paccheri: A Culinary Adventure
Stuffed Paccheri takes this pasta to another level of gastronomic delight. The large tubes are carefully filled with a variety of ingredients such as cheese, meat, or vegetables. Baked in the oven with a luscious sauce and melted cheese, stuffed Paccheri creates a show-stopping dish that will impress any guest.
Paccheri Rigati: Adding Texture to the Dish
For those who prefer a textured experience, Paccheri Rigati is the perfect choice. This version of Paccheri features ridges along the surface of the pasta, allowing the sauce to cling to it more effectively. The ridges provide a delightful mouthfeel and enhance the overall dining experience.
Paccheri Pasta with Neapolitan Ragù
Thick tubes of Paccheri pasta are paired with the ultimate meat lover’s sauce – Neapolitan Ragù. It’s Southern Italy on a plate and intensely flavorful and filling! Learn how to make this delicious Campanian feast.
Neapolitan Ragù
Neapolitan Ragù is a savored delicacy that hails from the ancient city of Naples, which is the third largest city in Italy. Known for its generous use of ripe tomatoes, this sauce stands apart from the better-known Bolognese ragù that’s created in the North with little to no use of tomatoes. The Neapolitan version embraces a hearty mix of beef, sausage, and pork ribs, with the addition of thinly sliced beef rolls, known as ‘involtini.’
There are two ways to serve this meaty delight – as a main course or on top of pasta in the form of a succulent sauce. Our preferred method blends the two, creating a mouth-watering flavor that’s perfect with Paccheri Pasta. By allowing the meat to cook in the sauce and then blending it back in, you get a more filling and wholesome meal.
Neapolitan Ragù with Paccheri – A Meaty Delight
If you’re on the hunt for a scrumptious, meaty delight with a burst of flavors, look no further than the Neapolitan Ragù with Paccheri. It’s an indulgent dish that’ll fill your home with its mouth-watering aroma throughout the slow cooking process. And, the best part is that all the ingredients needed to create the magic are readily available and simple to work with.
Ingredients for Paccheri with Neapolitan Ragù:
- Beef chuck roast (one large hunk of beef)
- Pork ribs
- Italian sausage (sweet or spicy)
- Pre-pulped tomato or whole San Marzano tomatoes
- Onion, celery, and carrot
- Garlic cloves
- Fresh herbs such as basil and sage
- Dry red wine (Chianti or similar)
- Rind of Parmigiano Reggiano
How to Make a Perfect Neapolitan Ragù with Paccheri
Making a Neapolitan Ragù with Paccheri is a slow-cooking process that demands patience to bring out the dish’s rich flavors. Here are the steps to create this classic Italian meal:
- Brown meat like chuck roast, pork ribs, and Italian sausage to create more flavor and texture to the dish.
- Fry onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and fresh herbs like basil and sage. Once they turn aromatic, add the browned meats and pre-pulped tomato or whole San Marzano, and let it simmer for three hours on low heat.
- After three hours, reduce the sauce for another 30 minutes to thicken it and intensify the flavors.
- Though this step is optional, we suggest removing all meat and herbs from the sauce and using a stick blender to make it super smooth and velvety.
- After blending the sauce, remove fat and bones from the meat and mash it up. Put it back in the sauce to create a thick, meaty blend that looks and tastes heavenly.
- Cook paccheri and mix it evenly with the sauce. Use some pasta cooking water to thin it down a little if necessary. Add some Parmigiano Reggiano on top to make it even more indulgent!
With these steps, you’ll soon have a perfect and flavorful plate of Neapolitan Ragù with Paccheri – a dish that’s sure to be the star of your dinner table.
Paccheri Pasta Stuffed with Sausage and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 14 oz (400 g) paccheri pasta
- 1 lb (450 g) fresh champignon mushrooms
- 11 oz (300 g) Italian sausage (sweet or spicy)
- 1 ¾ cup (400 g) cow’s milk ricotta cheese
- 1.3 cups (150 g) Parmigiano Reggiano DOP cheese, grated
- 1 leek, finely chopped
- 1 clove of fresh garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (50 g) dry white wine
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp triple-concentrated tomato paste
- 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- Fine salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Béchamel Sauce:
- ¾ cup (200 g) whole milk
- 1 ½ tbsp (20 g) unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp (15 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- Fine salt, to taste
For the Topping:
- Parmigiano Reggiano DOP cheese, grated to taste.
Steps:
- In a large saucepan over low heat, sauté the leeks with the garlic clove, then add the crumbled sausage, and brown for a few minutes.
- Add the mushrooms and tomato concentrate and continue to cook over high heat for roughly 10 minutes while stirring frequently.
- Season the sausage and mushroom mixture with thyme, salt, and black pepper, and leave to cool.
- In the meantime, cook the paccheri pasta in plenty of salted water until half done, then drain and lightly oil them to keep them from sticking.
- Preheat your oven to a temperature of 350°F (180°C).
- Prepare a fairly runny béchamel sauce by melting butter in a separate pan, adding the flour, milk, nutmeg, and salt, and stirring until the sauce starts to bubble and thicken.
- Mix the ricotta, cooked leeks, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and sausage and mushroom mixture in a bowl before carefully transferring it to a pastry bag without a nozzle.
- Arrange your half-cooked paccheri pasta in concentric circles at the bottom of your preferred baking dish.
- Fill the paccheri with the sausage and mushroom mixture, then sprinkle Parmigiano Reggiano cheese on top.
- Cover the dish with the remaining béchamel sauce and a few fresh thyme leaves.
- Bake your stuffed Paccheri pasta in the oven for approximately 25 minutes, then grill the surface for another 5 minutes until lightly browned.
- Once complete, take your delicious Paccheri pasta stuffed with sausage and mushrooms out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Closing Thoughts
Paccheri’s wide tubes, texture, and versatility make it a pasta to savor. Its ability to capture and enhance flavors, whether through traditional pairings or innovative creations, showcases the artistry and richness of Italian cuisine. As we explore the world of Paccheri pasta, we celebrate its versatility and the joy it brings to the dining table. From traditional recipes to modern interpretations, Paccheri invites us to embark on a culinary adventure that delights the palate and nourishes the soul.
Whether enjoyed at a renowned restaurant, prepared with love at home, or shared at a food festival, Paccheri pasta invites us to embrace the art of cooking and the joy of experiencing Italian cuisine. So, gather your ingredients, get creative in the kitchen, and indulge in the delight of Paccheri pasta. Buon appetito!
