Perfectly cooked well seasoned Penne Pasta scooped out of the boiling salted water and finished in a Bolognese Sauce for a delicious Penne Bolognese. Directly plated and served, or placed into a single serve Au Gratin dish with Cheese on top and baked for a Penne Bolognese Pasta Bake.
It’s that perfect bite and texture of the Penne with a good meaty Bolognese Sauce that makes this Penne Bolognese dish so good. Elevated even more so with the addition of Parmesan shredded on top, or the use of a Mozzarella & Provolone Cheese for the Pasta Bake version.
Bolognese Sauce
Bolognese Sauce is a thick Ragu Sauce that is best served with Broad or Short Pastas. It is also used as the meat filling for Lasagna. The Sauce takes the longest time to prepare.
With already prepared or leftover Bolognese Sauce, this recipe comes together in about 30 minutes. If you are making this from scratch, you will have to dedicate about 4 1/2 hours to prepare and simmer the Bolognese.
The Bolognese Sauce can be portioned into single 200 g Ziploc bags or Tupperware containers and Frozen in order to have a variety of Bolognese dishes ready to go in a moment.
Bolognese Sauce
Bolognese Sauce made with Soffritto, Tomato Paste, Wine, Meat & Passata. Simmered for 4 plus hours to get those developed flavors you only get in a Bolognese.
Passata
If you are looking to lift the Tomato flavors up a bit. Add a small amount of Passata to the Skillet with the Bolognese Sauce while heating up to prepare for the Pasta to finish cooking.
Penne
Penne is a Short Pasta and is very good to use with a Bolognese. Boil the Penne in Salted Water until almost done. Scoop out the Pasta and finish in the Pan with the Bolognese. Adjust the seasoning before serving.
Penne
Use 100 g of Penne per person with about 200 g of Bolognese Sauce.
Boil in 16 Cups of Water with 1 to 2 Tbl of Salt.
Straining Short Pasta
Use either a Pasta Pot fitted with an inside strainer basket or a Spider Strainer. Either one will work to efficiently get all the Pasta into the Pan with the Sauce. Don’t discard the Water. You want the Water to add to the Sauce in order to adjust for consistency. Especially where Bolognese Sauce is so thick.
Spider Strainer
These are very effective at scooping out Short Pasta to add directly to the Sauce.
They are also very good for when deep frying in the Wok or scooping Vegetables out that are boiled.
Penne Bolognese
Boil Penne Pasta in Salted water until almost done. Scoop out the Pasta and transfer to a skillet with the Bolognese Sauce. Use the Pasta water to adjust the consistency. Optionally, a bit of Passata can be added to lift the Tomato Flavors up a bit. Cook the Pasta & Sauce over medium heat until done to your liking. Adjust the seasoning if needed and plate.
Penne Bolognese
Boiled Penne Pasta cooked in a Bolognese Sauce with added Pasta water to adjust he consistency.
Use 100 g of Penne per person with about 200 g of Bolognese Sauce.
Penne Bolognese Pasta Bake
Prepared the same way with Penne cooked in the Bolognese Sauce. Instead of plating, it goes into a Single Serve Au Gratin Dish to be topped with a Mozzarella & Provolone Cheese Blend. Baked in a preheated oven at 450 F until the Cheese is melted with spots of browning.
Penne Bolognese Pasta Bake
Penne Bolognese placed into a single serve Au Gratin Dish and topped with a Mozzarella & Provolone Cheese Blend and oven baked.
The dish comes out of the oven piping hot, so let it rest a few minutes before serving.
Mozzarella & Provolone Cheese Blend
A very good Cheese blend is a mix of High Moisture Mozzarella Cheese & Provolone at a ratio of 3:1. Just shred the Mozzarella Cheese & Provolone and combine 3 cups of Mozzarella & 1 Cup of Provolone Cheese into a Ziploc Bag. Mix it up well for even distribution. Use on top for the Cheese and freeze the rest for other dishes.
Saputo Mozzarella Cheese
A high moisture Mozzarella Cheese that when combined with Provolone Cheese is absolutely the best for things like Pizza, Lasagna, Pasta Bakes and more.
Penne Bolognese Sides
Garlic Bread
Absolutely the best Garlic Bread! Loaded with flavors to please the most serious garlic lovers. Optionally, sprinkle some cheese on for a Cheesy Garlic Bread.
Baked in the Oven or Air Fryer.
Garlic Breadsticks
Breadsticks are also very nice as a side dish. With Pizza Dough already prepared, these can be made up in a short time. Serve them on the side with some Garlic Sauce for dipping.
Garlic Fingers
Garlic Fingers are very nice at the table with Pasta. Place the whole tray out for everyone to help themselves to some Garlic Fingers. Include some Garlic Sauce for dipping.
Equipment
- 1 Stockpot for the Pasta
- 1 Skillet for the Sauce & Pasta
Ingredients
- 400 g Bolognese Sauce - see notes
- 200 g Penne Pasta
- To Taste Salt & Pepper
- 16 C Water
- 1-2 Tbl Sea Salt
Instructions
- Bring a pot filled with 16 Cups of Water and 1-2 Tbl of Sea Salt to a Boil. Add the Penne Pasta and cook until almost done.
- Place 400 g of Bolognese Sauce into the Skillet over medium heat. Scoop the Penne out and add it directly to the Bolognese Sauce. Cook until the Penne is done to your liking. Use Pasta water to adjust the consistency of the Sauce.
- Adjust the seasoning if needed and plate to serve. Optionally, place into 2 single serve Au Gratin Dishes and top with a Mozzarella & Provolone Cheese Blend. Bake in a Preheated oven at 450 F until the Cheese is melted with light browning.