PENNE AND VEGETABLE GRATIN

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Penne and Vegetable Gratin image

Categories     Cheese     Pasta     Tomato     Side     Bake     Vegetarian     Casserole/Gratin     Basil     Zucchini     Gourmet     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher

Yield Serves 4 as main course or 6 as a side dish

Number Of Ingredients 18

1/2 pound penne or other tubular pasta (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
3/4 pound vine-ripened tomatoes, seeded and chopped (about 1 1/3 cups)
1 cup coarsely grated chilled Fontina cheese (preferably Italian, about 1/4 pound)
1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, washed well, spun dry, and chopped
1/3 cup packed fresh parsley leaves, washed well, spun dry, and chopped
For sauce
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced (about 3 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
For topping
1/2 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon olive oil

Steps:

  • In a 4-quart kettle bring 3 quarts salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes. (Pasta will cook more when baked.) Drain pasta in a colander and rinse well under cold water. Drain pasta well and in a 2- to 2 1/2-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish toss pasta with zucchini, tomatoes, Fontina, and herbs.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Make sauce:
  • In a large heavy saucepan cook garlic and red pepper flakes in butter over moderately low heat, stirring, 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and salt to taste and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until mushrooms are tender and give off their liquid. Add flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, milk, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil, whisking. Simmer sauce, whisking, 30 seconds.
  • Pour sauce evenly over pasta mixture and shake gratin dish gently to coat pasta mixture with sauce.
  • Make topping:
  • In a small bowl with a fork stir together bread crumbs and oil until crumbs are evenly moistened.
  • Sprinkle topping over pasta mixture and bake in middle of oven 30 minutes. Cool gratin 10 minutes before serving.

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