Sausage and Mushroom Baked Stuffed Paccheri.
Here in Italy, Sunday isn’t Sunday without a baked pasta dish on the table. The problem is, there are so many delicious ways to make an Italian pasta bake, it’s difficult to choose. But, one of my favourites is definitely baked stuffed paccheri. It takes a little more work than the classic mixing the cooked pasta with sauce, adding cheese on top and baking. However, it’s so worth it.
Paccheri ripieni con salsiccia e funghi
This baked stuffed paccheri with sausage and mushrooms is made with large pasta tubes called paccheri or schiaffoni. The pasta is stuffed with a delicious creamy porcini, sausage and ricotta filling and then baked in a cheesy béchamel. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? In fact, I think this dish is exceptional enough to serve at special occasions or when you just want to treat yourself and your family to something superlative!
What is paccheri pasta?
Paccheri, also called schiaffoni, is a traditional pasta from Naples. These large pasta tubes are popular throughout Italy, but particularly the South. In Italian, the word ‘schiaffo’ means slap and many believe that this pasta is so called because the noise made when pouring sauce onto the pasta resembles a slap! In Neapolitan, dialect ‘una pacca’ also means slap, hence the name paccheri!
In general, paccheri pasta is quite wide pasta tubes. You can find it in both a smooth (lisce) and grooved (rigate) version. The latter is often called paccheri millerighe, meaning a thousand lines! There is also a smaller size called mezzi paccheri which are about half the size of the original one. You can read more about these pasta tubes in my paccheri post.
Paccheri is a very versatile pasta because you can serve it with just a sauce or you can stuff it and serve with sauce. You can also bake it, stuffed or not. Italians like to bake stuffed paccheri placed vertically (standing up) in a round baking pan. The end result looks like a pasta cake!
I also made this mushroom and sausage baked stuffed paccheri by standing the pasta up in a round oven dish. However, because of the cheesy béchamel the pasta doesn’t hold its vertical position when served. Although that doesn’t matter as it tastes amazing anyway!
The paccheri I used.
To make this divine baked stuffed paccheri, I used a semi-whole wheat organic paccheri that was given to me by a pasta maker in the Marche region when I visited them in October. Girolomoni is a unique company in the world of Italian pasta.
Firstly, they produce only organic pasta made with 100% Italian durum wheat flour or heritage grains. In fact, they were probably one of the first companies to do so. Secondly, they are actually a cooperative rather than a privately owned company. You can read more about Girolomoni in my post about my visit.
Outside of Italy, Giromoloni pasta is also sold in some countries under the brand name Montebello (USA & France) or other private brand names such as Artisan Tradition (Canada) Rapunzel (Germany) Himneskt (Iceland). If you come across it, I would highly recommend giving it a try.
Of course, there are many companies that produce paccheri (schiaffoni). Many of these are producers from Gragnano near Naples, where paccheri is traditional and popular. They have been making dried pasta in Gragnano for more than 500 years and it is home to some of the best pasta makers in Italy. Among my favourites are Garofalo, Pastificio dei Campi, Afeltra, Di Martino and Gentile. But, of course there are more!
What are the other ingredients for this baked stuffed paccheri?
As I mentioned above this baked stuffed paccheri is filled with porcini, sausage and ricotta. I used dried porcini because I bought some in Calabria last month which are so good. Normally I prefer fresh or frozen porcini. But, of course, these aren’t always available.
You can also use other mushrooms for this recipe. Normal white button mushrooms or cremini would work well too. If you do use dried porcini, don’t forget to soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes before cooking. And save the water you soak them in. You can add a little to the sauce for a more intense porcini flavor.
For the sausage, I used plain Italian salsiccia. These are fresh pork sausages with no added spice or herbs. I wouldn’t use spicy sausages in this dish as they would overpower the other flavours. But, sausages with rosemary, thyme or garlic in them would go well too.
This stuffed baked paccheri calls for fresh cow milk ricotta. But, you could also use sheep ricotta which is very traditional in Southern Italy or a mix of the two.
Making this mushroom and sausage stuffed baked paccheri.
This rich and delicious baked paccheri recipe requires a number of steps. So, it isn’t really suitable for a quick weeknight meal. But, it’s perfect for Sunday lunch and special occasions.
To make the filling you need to soak the dried porcini (if using), remove the sausage meat from its casing and clean and slice the leeks. Then cook the leeks with peeled garlic in olive oil, add the sausage meat and when it’s browned add the chopped mushrooms and tomato concentrate. Let the sauce simmer while you parboil the pasta and make some béchamel.
Once everything is ready, finely chop the sausage sauce and ricotta mixture by hand or in a food processor, fill the pasta tubes with it and stand them up in your oven dish. Finally cover with the cheesy béchamel and some grated parmigiano and bake until the top is golden!
Whether it’s for a dinner with friends or a Sunday lunch with the family, this baked stuffed paccheri with sausage and mushrooms will be the star of your menu and I am sure that everyone will ask you for the recipe.
If you make this baked stuffed paccheri with sausage and mushrooms, I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you liked it. Please leave a comment here on the blog or on The Pasta Project Facebook page.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Buon Appetito!
SAVE THIS RECIPE FOR LATER?
If you want to save this recipe for later, you can print it, bookmark this page or save it to Pinterest.
Other paccheri (schiaffoni) recipes to try.
- Paccheri with Fresh Tuna Ragu.
- Mezzi Paccheri with Mushrooms and Cream.
- Ricotta and Basil Filled Paccheri with Tomato Sauce.
- Paccheri with Calamari and Potato.
- Paccheri with Porcini, Speck and Pistachios.
Don’t forget to pin for later!
Baked Stuffed Paccheri with Sausage and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 300 g paccheri (10.5 oz) also called schiaffoni
- 350 g criminis or button mushrooms (12oz) or 150 g (5oz) dried porcini
- 2 Italian pork sausages casings removed
- 1-2 leeks washed, peeled and sliced
- 250 g fresh ricotta (9oz) cow or sheep milk ricotta or a mix
- 1 clove garlic peeled
- 1 tbsp tomato concentrate (paste)
- 1/2 glass white wine
- 150 g Parmigiano Reggiano (5oz)
- salt for pasta and to taste
- freshly ground black pepper. to taste
- 3-4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil.
For homemade bechamel (you can use ready made)
- 500 ml fresh milk (1 pint)
- 50 g all-purpose flour (1.8oz)
- 50 g butter (1.8oz)
- 1 pinch nutmeg freshly grated
Instructions
Make the filling
- Put the dried porcini (if using) into a bowl and cover with warm water. Leave for 30 minutes then drain. Keep the water. Peel the garlic. Wash, peel and cut the leek into rounds. Then clean the fresh mushrooms (if using) and remove any dirt with a slightly damp cloth. Cut the mushrooms (porcini or fresh) into small pieces. Remove the casing from the sausage and chop the meat into small pieces.
- Put the extra virgin olive oil and the whole garlic into a skillet or deep frying pan. Heat the oil and let the garlic soften slightly. Add the leeks and saute over a low heat for at least 10 minutes. When the leeks are soft, add the sausage meat to the pan. Let it brown over a medium heat, turning it often. Then add the white wine.
- Let the alcohol evaporate for a few moments, then add the tomato paste and the mushrooms. Cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes, then add salt and pepper and remove the clove of garlic. If you have used dried porcini you can add a little of the soaking water at this point. When the mixture in the pan is quite dry/reduced, then turn off the heat and let it cool.
Make the béchamel
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the all-purpose flour (sifted). Stir continuously until a paste forms. This is called a roux. Add the milk to the roux a little at a time, stirring continuously, until you get a smooth sauce. Add 1/3 of the grated cheese and continue stirring until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened. Season with a pinch or two of salt, black pepper and freshly grated nutmeg. You don’t want the sauce to be too thick so add more milk if necessary.
- If using ready made béchamel heat it in a pan and add 1/3 of the grated cheese to it. Turn off once cheese has melted. If too thick add some milk.
Cook the pasta
- Put a pot of water onto boil for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil and bring to the boil again. Add the pasta and a teaspoon of olive oil to the water. Cook the pasta a couple of minutes less than al dente according to the instructions on the packet. Drain the pasta and run cold water over it to stop it cooking further.
Finish the dish
- Put the drained ricotta into a bowl, add 1/3 of the Parmigiano cheese and the cooled mixture of leeks, sausage and mushrooms. Stir and season with salt and pepper if necessary. Using an immersion blender, reduce the filling to a pesto type sauce. You can also just chop it into smaller pieces with a sharp knife.
- Put a little béchamel sauce into the bottom of a round oven dish. I used a terracotta one. Fill the dish with paccheri tubes standing vertically. Then fill each pasta tube with the filling using a teaspoon or a pastry bag. I found it easier to lift each pasta tube out of the dish, fill from both sides and replace.
- Once you have filled all the paccheri, pour the remaining béchamel over the pasta and sprinkle the top with the rest of the parmigiano. Cook the stuffed paccheri in a preheated oven at 180 °c for about 20 minutes + 5 minutes under the grill to brown the surface (if necessary). Remove the stuffed baked paccheri from the oven. Let it rest for 5 minutes and then serve.
Notes
Larry Patten says
This was a fun recipe to try. For me, and my “skillset” as a cook, it was a challenge. End result . . . it tasted great. But I had some disappointments and therefore have questions. By standing up the pasta, once baked and ready to eat, the servings were, er, a bit of a disaster. It all smushed together on the plate. I did make fresh pasta and wondered if I even needed to boil the pasta? Could I have immediately stuffed the fresh pasta and then put it on the oven? Nonetheless, even smushed, it was a lovely, hearty meal. Cheers!
Jacqui says
Hi Larry, I’m happy you liked this stuffed paccheri recipe. I didn’t stand the pasta tubes up when serving because they were better laid flat. Also if you have enough sauce, you don’t need to precook homemade pasta before baking as it can get a little too soft.
Larry Patten says
Thanks!!
David Skulski says
I made this last night. It’s quite different from many of the other pasta recipes here, i.e., no onion, celery or carrot (the typical soffrito) but very tasty. Rather more elaborate preparation but worth the effort. Only one detail I found problematic: 150g of grated parmegiano is a mountain of cheese. Could that be an error?
Aimee says
We made this tonight and loved it. Thank you!
Melissa says
Hi can this be made ahead and frozen? Thanks
Jacqui says
Hi Melissa, thanks for your comment.I’ve never made this dish ahead and frozen but Italian recipes say you can. Cooked or uncooked. Personally if I had to, I’d cook it, cool, freeze, defrost and bake again in preheated oven with some more cheese grated on top. If it starts to get too browned before cooked through, cover in aluminium foil. You can also make it a day ahead and keep in the fridge well sealed.
Chef Dennis says
I can’t imagine life without pasta! And we have it more than just Sunday. Thanks for another amazing recipe!
Gail Montero says
Just one look and I know that I would totally enjoy this dish! Such a delicious dish to enjoy for chilly winter nights!
Neh says
I have never heard of paccheri but I am a huge fan of stuffed pastas! Cant wait to try this recipe out, I am already drooling here.
Chandice Probst says
This recipe couldn’t be more delicious and comforting! Sausage stuffed pasta? Yes please! The mushrooms make it extra hearty. Thank you!
Sandra Shaffer says
Thank you! I love learning new ways to cook, especially authentic dishes like your paccheri. I have this pasta on my shopping list, but I may need to head to a speciality shop. That sauce…drool!