CHEESY BAKED PASTA AND BROCCOLI

CHEESY BAKED PASTA AND BROCCOLI image

Categories Pasta

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

3/4 pound (about 4 cups dry pasta) medium shells or Creste di gallo (horse-heads, literally cockscomb)
1 pound broccoli florets
2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
2 cups coarsely grated Gruyýre (.6 pounds)
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Kosher salt and black pepper
Garlic salt

Steps:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente. Wash and cut broccoli into small sections, steam until cooked but firm (remove from heat and cool under cold running water. While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and keep it moving for about five minutes until browned. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, nutmeg, salt, pepper, garlic salt. Simmer for ten minutes until mixture thinkens. Add 3/4 of the cheese and stir until melted. Add the pasta and broccoli and toss to combine. Transfer to a broiler-proof 8-inch square or another 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1⁄2 cup of cheese. Broil until golden, about 20 minutes.