Pasta gratin with four cheeses and oven roasted tomatoes

6 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
6tablespoonsUnsalted butter
½cupMinced shallots
½poundsShiitake or other wild mushrooms, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper, to taste
½teaspoonDried thyme, crumbled
½teaspoonDried rosemary, crumbled
2tablespoonsSnipped fresh chives or minced parsley
6tablespoonsUnsalted butter
3tablespoonsFlour
2cupsMilk, heated
4ouncesGrated Italian fontina cheese
4ouncesGrated mozzarella cheese
4ouncesCrumbled gorgonzola cheese
1cupFreshly grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly ground nutmeg, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
12Oven-roasted tomatoes
12ouncesMedium-size pasta shells, cooked and drained, (up to 16)

Directions

FOR THE SAUCE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a skillet melt 3 tablespoons of butter.

Add shallot and cook, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes, or until softened. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Cook, stirring occasionally for 2 minutes more or until the mushrooms are lightly golden. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in chives or parsley and set aside. Now make the sauce. In a saucepan set over moderately low heat melt butter, add the flour and cook the mixture, whisking, for 3 minutes. Add milk, bring mixture to a simmer, whisking, and simmer, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until lightly thickened. Remove saucepan from the heat and stir in the fontina, mozzarella, and gorgonzola and ⅔ cup of the Parmesan cheese, a little at a time, until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To assemble the gratin; in a large bowl toss the pasta with the mushroom mixture. Add ¾ of the sauce and stir gently to combine. Using remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, butter a 2 to 3 quart ratin dish arrange pasta and diagonal rows of the tomatoes. Top evenly with remaining sauce. Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes or until bubbling and golden.

Yield: 6 servings

PASTA MONDAY TO FRIDAY SHOW #PS6511 Copyright, 1997, TV FOOD NETWORK, G.P., All Rights Reserved

MCBuster formatted by Gail Shermeyer <4paws@...> on Mar 1, 1997 Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #531 by 4paws@... (Shermeyer-Gail) on Mar 21, 1997