Italian · main
Mostaccioli
Mostaccioli reads umami 7.4, richness 6.4 and salinity 5.1 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Italian main, about 45 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 8.2 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 3.1 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 2.7 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.0 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 7.5 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.3 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 7.4 · Richness 6.4 · Salinity 5.1 · Nutty 3.6 · Herbaceous 3.0 · Sweetness 2.7 · Sourness 2.4 · Funk & Ferment 2.1 · Warm Spice 1.7 · Floral 1.4 · Fruity 1.2 · Citrus 1.0 · Allium 0.9 · Bitterness 0.9 · Earthy 0.8 · Heat 0.6
What's in it (8)
- 1 1/2 lb. bulk Italian sausage
- 4 c. meatless spaghetti sauce
- 1 lb. mostaccioli, cooked and drained
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 (15 oz.) container cottage or Ricotta cheese
- 8 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 c. fresh grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
- fresh basil (optional)
Time & effort: about 45 min (5 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 250 kcal, 15.8 g protein, 14.5 g fat, 15 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (8 steps)
- In a Dutch oven, brown sausage; drain.
- Stir in spaghetti sauce and mostaccioli; set aside.
- In a bowl, mix egg, Ricotta and Mozzarella cheeses.
- In a 9 x 13-inch pan or 3-quart casserole; spread 1/2 of the mostaccioli mixture.
- Layer cheese mixture over all; top with remaining mostaccioli mixture.
- Bake, covered, at 375° for 40 minutes.
- Top with Romano or Parmesan cheese; bake 5 more minutes.
- Garnish with basil, if desired.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Classic Chicken Parmesan — Italian-American
- Skillet Chicken Parmesan — Italian-American
- Vegetable Lasagna — Italian
- Egg Drop Fried Rice with Chicken — Chinese-American
- Skillet Kung Pao Chicken — Chinese-American
Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.