BAKED FOUR-CHEESE PASTA

Baked Four-Cheese Pasta image

Yield makes 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Previous Next

Cooking spray
1 (16-ounce) box ziti or any other tube-shaped pasta
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
12 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup dry white wine
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese (6 ounces)
1 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (4 ounces)
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (8 ounces)
1 cup shredded fontina cheese (4 ounces)
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly coat a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and put it in the prepared casserole dish. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until just soft, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and cook for about 4 more minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half. Reduce the heat to medium and add the cream. Simmer gently, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until the mixture starts to thicken slightly. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the Parmesan, Gorgonzola, mozzarella, and fontina cheeses, and season with salt and pepper.
Pour the cheese mixture over the pasta. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly. Remove from the oven and stir to make sure the cheese and pasta are thoroughly combined.
notes
Great for freezing! See our Freezer Tips on pages 23-27.
Vegetarian friendly!
End up with extra Gorgonzola? Put it to good use! Sandy loves to stuff it into a fresh fig, then wrap the fig in a very thin slice of prosciutto. Voilà! A sophisticated garnish for a salad or an easy appetizer for your next cocktail party.