Baked Rigatoni With Spinach Ricotta And Fontina Food

RIGATONI WITH CABBAGE AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Canadian bacon and cook until the edges begin to crisp, about 2 minutes. Add the onion and cabbage, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and toss to coat. Cook until the vegetables begin to brown and soften, about 3 minutes. Remove 1 cup cooking water from the pasta pot and add to the skillet; bring to a simmer and cook until the cabbage is just tender and the sauce is reduced by about half, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking water. Add the pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the skillet and increase the heat to high; toss to coat, adding more cooking water if the pasta is too dry (it should be very saucy). Stir in the parsley and remove from the heat. Sprinkle with the fontina and parmesan and toss.

BAKED RIGATONI WITH SPINACH, RICOTTA, AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the rigatoni until almost done, about 12 minutes.
• Drain.
• Put the pasta in the prepared baking dish and toss with 1 tablespoon of the oil.
• Meanwhile, squeeze as much of the water as possible from the spinach.
• Put the spinach in a food processor and puree with the ricotta, 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan, the nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Stir in half the fontina.
• Stir the spinach mixture into the pasta.
• Top with the remaining fontina and Parmesan.
• Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over the top.
• Bake the pasta until the top is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• VARIATION:.
• You can substitute another chunky pasta, such as penne rigate, penne, ziti, or fusilli. Boil all of these one or two minutes less.

BAKED RICOTTA AND SPINACH RIGATONI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook rigatoni for 5 minutes in a pot of boiling, salted water. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.
• To make the bechamel sauce:
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the shallots and garlic. Sweat the shallots and garlic for a few minutes until softened and but not colored. Add the flour and stir until a smooth paste forms. Gradually whisk in the wine and then the milk. Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking constantly and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper, to taste. Let cool slightly.
• Transfer cooled bechamel to a large mixing bowl and add the spinach, ricotta, and eggs. Mix in rigatoni and transfer to a greased 9 by13-inch baking dish. Top with grated mozzarella. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20 minutes, or until cheese is lightly browned on top, the center is no longer runny, and the sides are bubbly.