In the past, I've made fried spaghetti, pasta fritatti, timbali and other such pasta-centrist dishes, where the pasta is bound together by eggs, cheese and other fillings. But, I've never made this dish: Torta Rigatoni Piede Bolognese al Forno.
​(A literal translation: Baked Standing Rigatoni Pie with Bolognese Sauce.)

I figured I'd give it a try for a post-holiday dinner for some friends that were coming for a visit. I was a bit intimidated about the techniques used in this dish. Would the rigatoni stand up? Would enough of  the Bolognese get inside the rigatoni? Would it fall apart as I popped it out of the spring-form pan?

I set out to research this recipe in Italian. I often do this when I want to find authentic recipes... I use Google Translate to help translate the recipe name I am looking for, and then use the Italian name with the word "ricetta" (recipe) after it. In this way, I often find a myriad of authentic, traditional recipes and methods--often from home cooks or Nonnas. I did find many variations of this dish, and different methods of preparation. For instance, some put the ricotta cheese mixture on top of the rigatoni and press it into the holes. I didn't want an overly cheesy version, but instead opted to press the bolognese into the holes. The funny thing is, I actually came across one particularly fussy recipe where the cook actually used a pastry bag to pipe the cheese mixture into each and every piece of rigatoni! If I want that much cheese, I'll make manicotti anyway.  

I'm not going to get into my recipe for Bolognese Sauce here, but I'll write a separate post with that recipe since it can be used in other dishes. I'll concentrate more on the techniques to put this whole thing together.  I will say that you should use the largest diameter rigatoni that you can find. I actually tested a few pieces each of two brands of rigatoni by cooking them beforehand to be sure I had the correct cook on them and to see if the holes were large enough. I wanted to be sure they would maintain their round shape and be able to stand up. I also didn't want them too long (tall in the pan) or there wouldn't be enough room for the Bolognese and cheese toppings. In the end, Colavita had a rigatoni that worked well.  

I discovered that you have to boil the rigatoni about a minute or two less than you would for a well cooked al dente pasta. This is very important! If the pasta is overcooked, each rigatoni will collapse with flattened holes that won't be able to accept any filling. 

You will need a spring form pan with to make this recipe. 

Ingredients
1 pound large rigatoni pasta 
Bolognese sauce (allow extra for serving on the side)
8 ounces Italian style Fontina cheese, shredded
1 cup of grated Parmigiano Reggiano
light olive oil (for coating the inside of the spring for pan)

​For the filling:
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1/4 cup (a handful) of grated Parmigiano Reggiano
​1 whole egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
20 cracks of fresh black pepper (from a pepper mill - alt., 1/4 tsp ground pepper)
dash of nutmeg

     13. Next, spoon a layer of Bolognese sauce on top of the rigatoni, trying to press the meat            down into the pasta holes (see the series of photos above).
     14. Then spoon a layer of  the ricotta mixture over the top of the sauce.
     15. Top off the ricotta with half the Fontina cheese. (You will add the rest at the end).
     16. Place the pan it into the oven on the middle rack (in between the two baking pans, as            described above), and bake for 40 minutes on a center rack. 
     17. When done, remove the pan and spread the rest of the Fontina on top. Set the oven                to broil, place the pan back into the oven, and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the                      cheese is a bit browned and bubbling.
     18. When done, remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes before serving!
     19. When cooled, you can take a knife or thin spatula and slide it around the edges to                   release the pasta from the sides of the pan. Release the lock and gently lift the sides               of the pan away. After removing the pan sides, rest for another 5 minutes. You                         should now be able to slice and serve.  Use a pie server to plate each slice. 

Cooling down at the end for 30 minutes is very important. When I made this, I let it cool only for 10 minutes or so (we had 3 hungry kids waiting for dinner, so I was a bit rushed). While most held together just fine, when I pulled the first slice out, a bit of the pie started to collapse. This dish doesn't have to be piping hot, so don't rush it. Serve with a dollop or two of more Bolognese on the sides of each wedge slice. We had it with a nice Prosecco... the kids had some non-alcoholic cider in wine glasses.  One slice of "pie" and a salad was enough for each of us, and we still had several portions left over for another meal for "we three". 

One more note: If you'd like, you can place the ricotta cheese mixture onto the rigatoni first, forcing it down into the holes, and then the Bolognese followed by the ricotta mixture on top. Personally, I liked getting bits of meat down into the pasta. If you're more of a cheese person, they by all means, prepare it the other way around.  For a variation, try making one with an Alfredo sauce rather than the Bolognese. 
​
Trust me, this meal is well worth the effort, especially when trying to impress some friends.

Buon appetito! 

Leave a comment if you make this recipe. I'd love to hear how it came out!
​
--Jerry Finzi   ​

We've made spaghetti pie several times and really love it on a cold winter's day for a hearty, warming lunch. This recipe is a fairly good one from Food Network. To cut down the fat and cholesterol a bit, I'd swap the pancetta for a leaner ham, like Boar's Head Piccolo Prosciutto, and I'd use 1 real egg and 3/4 cup of Egg Beaters. Click the photo or HERE to see the recipe.

--Jerry Finzi

Specialty Stores
Alimentari
Small, neighborhood grocery store. They are everywhere and they are charming and helpful. Everything from toilet paper, water, sodas, wine (under 5 Euros!), produce, breads, cheeses (cut to order), bottled tomato sauce (pilati), salty snacks and biscotti (packaged cookies) and deli meats. The literal translation of alimentari is food. Everything you need to stock your rental villa's fridge or for a picnic is here. 
Panificio         
Bread baker (also, Panettiere, Panetteria or Forno--literally, oven), usually referring to a larger bread bakery. Forno Antico usually designates a bakery with older, historic, wood fired ovens that makes regional breads, but also may offer other things such as pizza, foccacia, tarts (savory or sweet) and pastries.   
Pasticceria       
Pastries, cakes (sometimes bread)
Enoteca    
Wine shop (in our experience, mostly packaged tourist wines. Supermarkets and alimentari also have wine and liquors) 
Formaggeria   
Cheeses
Frutta e Verdura   
Fruits and vegetables, Also Frutteria. 
Gelateria           
Ice cream (gelato and other frozen treats) Because many gelateria are open during riposa (the 2-3 hour lunch closure), we found many in smaller towns also offer light lunch snacks.
Confetteria
Confections, candies.  
Latteria             
Dairy (milk, butter, cheese). Also, Cremeria. 
Salumeria   
Cold cuts, cheese, salami, some canned goods (also called a Pizzicheria in some regions)
Macelleria        
Fresh meat, salami, and sausage
Rosticceria       
Take out and eat-in roasted foods, usually meats and vegetables
Pescheria          
Fish
Supermercato
Supermarket. Some are national brands, like Carrefour, Coop, Crai, Essalunga, Auchun and Conad. These stores can be very large and located just outside town centers, while others are smaller. In cities you will see very small looking supermarket entrances, but they open up into much larger spaces. Bring a cloth or mesh bag and bag your own groceries.  They charge for plastic shopping bags. Wear the provided plastic gloves when picking produce. 
Pizzeria       
Pizzeria. Many offer other dishes for lunch and dinner, and some are now offering pizza by the slice, or "al taglio".
Bar
Espresso or cappuccino for breakfast with pastries; sandwiches for lunch. Especially in smaller towns, this type of shop is the only place for you and your family to find something lunch. Most Italians (even working in restaurants) go home for 2-3 hours from 12-3pm for riposa, similar to a siesta.  Tabacchi    
Tobacco products, lottery machines, various sundry items. 
Often combined as Bar-Tabacchi. 
(Unlike in U.S. cities, where "bottega" is specifically used to mean a local, small grocery store, in Italian, the word literally means "shop", and can have another word attached to describe what type of products it carries.)
Osteria
Tavern, often with simple food choices like sandwiches, pizzas, foccacia, especially during Serenissima, or Happy Hour. Also, Taverna or Trattoria.
Birreria
Micro Brewery.
Panineria 
Sandwich (panini) shop. 
Panellari
In Sicily, a street vendor or small shop selling chick pea fritters and sandwiches. 
Hamburgheria
Just what it sounds like. 

​Non Food Stores 
(Note: the word Negozio means Shop.)
​
Farmacia            
Pharmacy
Edicola                
News-Magazine shop
Drogheria          
Dry goods, canned goods, kitchen and household items. Even though it might sound like it, this is not a drug store.  
Ottico         
Optician
Parrucheria      
Hair dresser (women)
Barbiere             
Barber (men's) 
Lavasecco          
Laundry-Dry Cleaners (Drop-off service, often hard to find. As a local). 
Lavanderia a Gettone      
Laundromat (There are some chains, like Ondablu or Ecolava, but many are independent shops, often difficult to find. Once again, ask a local.)                   
Mesticheria       
Hardware
Sarto                   
Tailor
Libreria              
Book shop
Cartoleria
Stationers, office supplies, paper goods. 
Immobiliari       
Real Estate
Scarperia            
Shoe store
Sportivi               
Sports
Cartoleria           
Stationary Store
Vetreria
Glassware, giftware. 
Gioielleria           
Jewelry  
Negozio di Abbigliamento        
Clothing shop
Biancheria
Undergarments, linens.
Gioielleria
Jewelry Store.
​Negozio di Giocattoli                   
Toy shop. Also, Giocheria. 

--Jerry Finzi