Baked Cavatappi in Tomato Sauce
- Kosher salt for the pasta pot
- 1 pound cavatappi or penne
- 4 cups Tomato Sauce (page 385)
- 1 cup freshly grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 2 tablespoons soft butter
- 6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled, sliced in 1/2-inch rounds
- 1 pound shredded provola or provolone, preferably imported from Italy
- 1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
- A large pot for cooking the pasta; a 4-quart rectangular baking dish or oval gratin dish
- Fill the pasta pot with salted water (at least 1 tablespoon salt), and heat to a rolling boil.
- Stir in the cavatappi, and cook at the boil until al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package directions).
- Drain the pasta well in a colander, and put it in a big bowl.
- Pour in 2 cups of the tomato sauce, sprinkle over it 1/2 cup of the grated grana, and toss well, to dress all the cavatappi evenly.
- Meanwhile, heat the oven to 400; brush the baking dish with the butter.
- Spill in half of the dressed pasta, spreading it out to fill the pan bottom in an even layer, and arrange the cooked egg slices on top.
- Scatter half the shredded provola evenly over the eggs, then spread a cup of tomato sauce on top of the cheese.
- Next, arrange all the remaining pasta in a flat, even layer, then spoon 3/4 cup tomato sauce on top.
- Sprinkle the remaining grated grana and the rest of the provola over the pasta; scatter the bread crumbs over all, and drizzle the last bit of tomato sauce on the top.
- Tent the baking dish with a sheet of aluminum foil, arching it so it doesnt touch the crumb topping and pressing it against the sides.
- Set the dish in the oven, and bake for 35 minutes, then remove the foil, and bake another 15 minutes or so, until the top is nicely browned and crusty.
- Serve hot!
kosher salt, cavatappi, tomato sauce, butter, eggs, provolone, bread crumbs, fresh italian parsley, pasta
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/baked-cavatappi-in-tomato-sauce-372377 (may not work)