One of the healthiest ways to cook food is to bake it.
And to make the dish healthier, why not bake something that is high in fiber? Pasta baked to a crunch is a health buff's dream.
They get the fiber, the greaseless cooking and the deliciousness all in one go.
There are so many recipes for baked pasta.
There is one for everyone, not just the health buffs.
Pasta that can be baked is called pasta al forno.
This type of pasta is the most ideal for baking.
The most popular of al forno pastas are rigatoni and ziti.
Al forno is actually the Italian term that means "from the oven".
It is a very common cooking term and applies to other food like pizza and bread that were cooked by oven baking.
This is in contrast to the usual way of cooking pasta, al dente.
It is relatively easier to bake pasta than to cook it conventionally.
This is because after mixing in all the ingredients and leaving the pasta in the oven, all you have to do is wait.
Of course, it is only right to check on the baking every few minutes to make sure dish doesn't burn.
But aside from that, your hands are pretty much free.
Pasta bake recipes are everywhere.
And surely, there is one for everyone.
Whatever your preference, you can use either white or red sauce on your baked pasta.
They can have all sorts of ingredients.
Seafood like shrimps, clams and tuna are no stranger to baked pastas.
Meat, like ground beef, is also a favorite ingredient.
Vegetables can also be part of the mix, as you can put in mushrooms and beans on your pasta.
For vegetarians, there is the Baked Spinach Cannelloni.
This is a delicious dish of tube pasta stuffed with spinach and creamy ricotta cheese.
For the athletic, there is the Baked Ziti with Tuna.
This can supply you all the protein you need for a gym session.
For people who just love good food, the Baked Meat Lasagna would be perfect.
There's nothing more indulgent than a dish of lasagna enveloped in tomato sauce, mixed with ground beef, and all topped off with soft mozzarella cheese.
One of the best things about baked pasta is that it has longer shelf life than regularly cooked pasta.
Regular pasta can easily spoil a day or two after being cooked.
It is a great left over dish and can last longer, if stored properly.