Pasta e Fagioli al Forno
- Salt
- 1 pound penne rigate or whole-wheat penne
- 1/4 pound pancetta, 3 to 4 slices thick cut like bacon
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 ribs celery from the heart with leafy tops, chopped
- 1 carrot, peeled and grated
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 2 to 3 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped
- 3 to 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves finely chopped
- 1 fresh bay leaf
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can small white beans "Roman" beans, such as Goya brand or, cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- Nutmeg, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups grated Romano
- Pasta e Fagioli is a dish I keep revisiting trying to play around with methods for it so I can keep making it new to me.
- Here, the classic soup turns into a baked pasta dish.
- Loosen your belts and open wide.
- Have your blankies ready for a family nap.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, cook pasta to just shy of al dente.
- Chop pancetta into 1/4-inch dice.
- While pasta cooks, heat a skillet with olive oil over medium to medium-high heat.
- Add pancetta, cook 2 to 3 minutes then add celery, carrot, onions, garlic, rosemary, thyme and bay leaf to the skillet, season with salt and pepper.
- Saute the vegetables until tender, 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add beans and heat them through.
- Stir in 1/2 cup wine, simmer 30 seconds more and turn off heat.
- Remove bay leaf.
- While vegetables cook, place a small sauce pot over medium heat, add butter, melt butter then whisk in flour and cook 1 minute then whisk in milk.
- Season sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg and reduce 4 to 5 minutes, stir in half the grated cheese, turn off heat and adjust seasoning.
- While sauce cooks, place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat broiler to high.
- Drain pasta and return to the pot, toss with white bean mixture and sauce, stir to coat, transfer to a casserole dish, top with remaining cheese and place in oven to brown, 5 minutes.
salt, penne rigate, pancetta, extravirgin olive oil, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, rosemary, thyme, bay leaf, freshly ground black pepper, white beans, white wine, butter, flour, milk, nutmeg, romano
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/pasta-e-fagioli-al-forno-recipe.html (may not work)