Pasta Babbo Natale
- Vegetarian
- Energy Kcal 317
- Carbohydrates g 35.3
- of which sugars g 3.6
- Protein g 11.1
- Fats g 14.6
- of which saturated fat g 4.8
- Fiber g 2.2
- Cholesterol mg 14
- Sodium mg 360
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Prep time: 15 min
- Cook time: 35 min
- Serving: 4
- Cost: Very low
PRESENTATION
So, here’s the deal with this Babbo Natale pasta—it’s not just any dish, it's a holiday masterpiece! Picture this: Santa Claus right on your plate, with pasta for his rosy cheeks and beard, and those bits of mozzarella and olives? Yeah, they make his hat and eyes. It's tender, gooey, and super melty. You know, it makes kids giggle and adults feel like kids again.
Inspired by pasta alla sorrentina—seriously good—this Christmas pasta dish embodies Campania's love for simple, genuine ingredients. And listen, there's a sprinkle of holiday magic in there.
So, during the holidays in southern Italy, tables are usually jam-packed with fancy stuff. But here’s the thing, this holiday pasta recipe stands out. It's simple and joyful, and you know, lets everyone get in on the action. The mozzarella? It melts right into the sauce, making every bite so moist and stringy. And those olives? They add a tangy little kick that’s just great. Families love making this together, with kids shaping Santa’s hat or fixing up the pasta for his beard. In some towns in Campania, they might toss in basil or different pasta shapes—really, it varies—but the heart of it remains: it's about togetherness.
For anyone hunting for festive pasta ideas or wanting something fresh for Christmas dinner pasta, this dish brings laughter, chat, and those happy feels. Whether it’s kids going all out creative or adults diving back into childhood memories, this pasta is a joy. The playful setup and comforting flavors make it super warm and inviting—pretty much a holiday must-have. So, if you're dreaming up a festive menu, seriously consider this Santa Claus pasta recipe. It’s Italian charm and holiday spirit in a dish—no question.
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- INGREDIENTS
- Ingredients for 4 cocottes (5 x 3 x 1.2 inches)
- Mini Pipe Rigate pasta 5.6 oz (160 g)
- Tomato purée 1 cup (250 g)
- Mozzarella cheese 4.5 oz (125 g)
- Black olives 2 - pitted
- Garlic 1 clove
- Basil 3 leaves
- Extra virgin olive oil to taste
- Fine salt to taste
How to prepare Pasta Babbo Natale
To prepare Santa Claus Pasta, start with the sauce: heat the olive oil in a pot, add the garlic clove 1 and let it brown for a couple of minutes, then pour in the tomato puree 2, add the basil leaves 3, salt to taste, and let it cook on low heat for about 25 minutes.
While the sauce is cooking, bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta and prepare the other ingredients: slice the mozzarella 4, then cut strips from one end of the slices to get larger pieces that resemble a stylized beard and smaller, thinner pieces for the eyebrows 5. Use the smooth nozzle of a pastry bag to cut a small hole just below the straight side of the larger mozzarella pieces (to simulate the shape of the mouth) 6 and set aside the mozzarella circle obtained.
Now cut the pitted black olives in half 7 and use the same nozzle to create small black circles 8 that you'll use as Santa Claus's eyes. When the sauce is ready, pour the rigatoni pasta into the water, which should be boiling by now 9, and cook for 5 minutes.
In the meantime, remove the garlic from the tomato sauce 10 and set aside about a ladleful, then preheat the oven to 464°F. After the 5 minutes, drain the pasta, add it to the sauce in the pan 11 and briefly toss it over high heat to blend well with the sauce. At this point, transfer the pasta into the 4 cocottes, dividing it equally 12.
Place the large mozzarella pieces on top of the pasta in the lower half of the cocottes 13, then arrange the thinner strips horizontally in the upper half, to simulate the eyebrows 14. Take the black olive circles and place them between the two mozzarella pieces to simulate the eyes 15.
Add a teaspoon of the sauce you set aside on top of the mozzarella strips to create the hat 16 and, finally, place the mozzarella circle you got from the mouth on top as the pom-pom of the hat 17. Now bake the cocottes in the preheated oven at 464°F for 4-5 minutes until they form an inviting crust 18: your Santa Claus Pasta is ready to be served!