Baked Cavatappi With Smoked Ham And Fontina Recipes

BAKED CAVATAPPI WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500˚ F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 2 minutes less than the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, cook the sausage in 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove to a plate using a slotted spoon.
• Heat 1 more tablespoon olive oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and herbes de Provence and cook 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes, sausage and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit more cooking water. Stir the pasta into the sauce.
• Whisk the ricotta, 1/4 cup cheese blend, the lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and 3 tablespoons cooking water in a bowl. Layer half of the pasta and ricotta mixture in an 8-inch square baking dish, then top with the remaining pasta, ricotta mixture and cheese blend. Bake until bubbly, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Toss the lettuce with the lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Serve with the pasta.

CREAMY CAVATAPPI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook cavatappi according to package directions., Meanwhile, saute garlic in butter in a Dutch oven. Stir in flour and pepper sauce until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes., Stir in cheeses until melted; add green onions. Drain cavatappi; stir into cheese mixture., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, bacon and melted butter; sprinkle over top., Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with green onion and, if desired, pepper.

BAKED CAVATAPPI WITH SMOKED HAM AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, saute mushrooms in 1 tbs.
• butter over medium heat for two minutes.
• Add Sherry, stir for 1 minute and remove mushrooms from heat.
• Cook the cavatappi in the boiling water until al dente and drain.
• While pasta is cooking, melt 3 tbs.
• butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the flour and whisk until smooth.
• Gradually add milk and continue whisking.
• Stir over heat until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add sauteed mushrooms, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Butter a large ovenproof dish, and arrange 1/3 of the cavatappi in the dish.
• Top with 1/3 of the cheese and ham and spoon on 1/3 of the sauce.
• Repeat the layers two more times, ending with sauce.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until heated through and bubbly, about 20 to 30 minutes minutes.
• (Casserole may also be refrigerated and baked later. Increase baking time to 30 minutes for a chilled casserole.) (DJM notes: use a dish smaller and a little deeper than a basic 9x13.).

BAKED FONTINA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler and position the oven rack 5 inches from the heat.
• Distribute the cubes of Fontina evenly in a 12-inch cast-iron pan. Drizzle on the olive oil. Combine the garlic, thyme, and rosemary and sprinkle it over the cheese and olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and place the pan under the broiler for 6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling and starts to brown.
• Serve the baked Fontina family-style-right out of the oven in the cast-iron pan with crusty chunks of bread for everyone to dip.