Baked Penne

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked penne pasta
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 4 eggs, separated and brought to
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ⅛ tsp cream of tartar
• 1 pinch salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic
• 1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley
• ½ cup mozzarella cheese
• 1 ½ cups tomato paste
• 4 leaves basil

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190.6 °C).
2. In a gallon of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente.
3. Drain and rinse with cold water.
4. Set aside.
5. Combine the ricotta, egg yolks, butter, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, and tomato paste.
6. Fold in the cooked pasta.
7. Set aside.
8. In a spotlessly clean metal bowl, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks with cream of tartar.
9. Gently fold into the pasta mixture.
10. Pour into a parchment-lined high-sided roasting pan.
11. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and cover with aluminum foil.
12. Bake in the center of the oven for 15 minutes.
13. Remove the foil and lower the temperature to 350 °F (176.7 °C).
14. Bake for another 30 minutes or until browned and bubbly on top.
15. Place serving portions onto plates and garnish with basil.
16. Serve warm.