Thursday, November 7, 2013

Cheesy Rigatoni Bake Or Grown Up Gourmet Mac & Cheese


This is a pretty awesome tasting & calorie-laden dish.  I prepared it as a side dish for roasted pork tenderloin.  It's rich tangy taste was a nice pairing with a mellow seasoned meat.  WOW!  I sounded like I was all like on a FOOD show or something.  Get real.  So, enjoy the recipe & my AWESOME iPhone pictures.  Cuz, I'm classy like that. 

Shopping List
1 lb rigatoni pasta
6 oz of Swiss cheese grated (or Gruyere would be great too!)
6 oz of Cheddar cheese (grated)
8 oz of Mozzarella (grated)
8 oz of Cemini mushrooms (sliced) or buttons or baby bellas
6 tbsp of butter
3 cloves of garlic (minced)
1/4 cup flour
2 cups of milk (if ya want to be really crazy use heavy whipping cream)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp of pepper
pinch of nutmeg




Preheat your oven to 375.  Grate your cheese.  Set aside.  Cook pasta according to directions on package, but UNDERCOOK by 3-4 minutes.

While your pasta cooks, melt 1 tbsp of butter in a skillet.  Add 1 clove of minced garlic and stir until fragrant (about 30 seconds).  Add in sliced mushrooms & saute until they begin to release water & shrink. (about 5 minutes).  I found my pan very dry so I drizzled the teeniest bit of olive oil in the pan. 

Remove mushrooms from pan & set aside.


Your pasta should be cooked by now.  Remove & drain.  Set aside. 



Melt 5 tbsp of butter in the same skillet.  Add remaining garlic & stir for 30 seconds.  Add flour & whisk constantly for 2-3 minutes to create roux.  (I love that word...roux. It sounds so fancy.  I made a "roux")  




Anyway, when your roux is golden brown, add milk & continue to whisk for 1-2 minutes.





Set aside 1/2 cup of swiss/cheddar cheese & 1/2 of the mozzarella.  Dump the remaining cheese into the sauce and stir for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is melted & sauce has thickened.


Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.


Let's talk about FRESH nutmeg.  It's worth it!  Try it.  I didn't do it for years because, frankly, I was a little scared thinking I'd do something wrong.  You won't.  GO. BUY. IT. NOW. (And, add a little to your cinnamon/sugar mixture when you bake Snickerdoodles. Amaze balls!) 


Add your pasta, & mushrooms, stir mixture until the pasta is covered.  And, transfer to a baking dish.  Top with remaining cheese.



Bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is  golden brown. 
 Dee-lish! 


A perfect pairing with pork, a yummy Asian salad, and crusty bread infused with garlic.

Enjoy!

 
Recipe Credit:  Somewhere off the internet.  I tweaked it.  Wish I could remember where I found it. 

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