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baked pasta
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Baked Pasta

Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8
Author Vincenzo's Plate

Equipment

  • Large saucepan
  • 5L deep pot
  • wooden spoon
  • Whisk
  • Hand grater
  • Rectangular baking tray

Ingredients

  • 3-4 Italian pork sausages with fennel
  • 1 packet Rigatoni pasta 500g
  • 2 medium size broccoli heads
  • Extra virgin olive oil EVOO
  • Small sprig of rosemary
  • Fresh mozzarella cut into cubes
  • Parmesan cheese
  • INGREDIENTS FOR THE BECHAMEL SAUCE:
  • 50 grams Butter 1/4 cup
  • 50 grams Plain flour 1/4 cup
  • 500 ml US milk 1 Pint

Instructions

  • Peel the skin off the sausages and break down the mince into small balls.
  • Cut the broccoli into small pieces (stalks too) and boil them for around 15 min.
  • Melt 50g of butter in a pan and add 50g flour then whisk well to ensure you minimise lumps.
  • Using up to 500ml of milk begin to stir in a small amount at a time over heat.
  • Add a sprinkle of nutmeg and keep whisking and adding milk until it becomes creamy. Leave to the side.
  • Put a fry pan on the stove at a medium heat. Add a sprig of rosemary and using a wooden spoon, mix it through the oil and around the pan so it infuses.
  • Remove the rosemary and then add the broccoli, letting them sauté until they become really soft and squash them down with a wooden spoon. Add the mini sausage balls and make sure they brown well and cook through.
  • In the meantime, bring 5L of water to the boil and add a good pinch of rock salt before finally adding the pasta.
  • Cook the rigatoni pasta 2 minutes less than the recommended time so it is still al dente (it will continue to cook in the oven) and then strain the water out.
  • Using the deep pot you cooked the pasta in, add some broccoli and sausage mix then add a few layers of pasta, another generous amount of the broccoli and repeat until you finish both. Mix well.
  • Add some béchamel through and mix together so there are no big lumps.
  • Spoon out the pasta mixture onto a baking tray creating a layer. Add some béchamel sauce through the middle along with cubes of mozzarella. This process will make the baked pasta nice and creamy.
  • Create another layer and once again add béchamel and mozzarella. Grate fresh parmesan over the top, smothering the pasta. This will crisp up the sides once in the oven and melt through the middle.
  • Cook it in the oven for 20 minutes at 220 degrees celsius (428 F).
  • E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’s Plate….Enjoy!

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