Baked Pasta With Spinach And Sausage

Recipe Ingredients

2 lbs	908g / 32oz	Fresh spinach
1 lb	454g / 16oz	Hot Italian sausage
		Salt - to taste
1 lb	454g / 16oz	Penne or shells = (or other hollow pasta)
1/4 cup	49g / 1.7oz	Butter - plus more for the pan
		More for the pan
2		Garlic cloves - minced
		Freshly-grated nutmeg - to taste
1 cup	237ml	Chicken stock
2 cups	474ml	Heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup	48g / 1.7oz	Diced piquillo peppers - (abt 6) - see * Note = (or other roasted red peppers)
		Freshly-ground black pepper - to taste
1 lb	454g / 16oz	Top-quality fontina cheese - grated
1/2 cup	99g / 3.5oz	Freshly-grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/3 cup	48g / 1.7oz	Fine dry bread crumbs

Recipe Instructions

Wash the spinach well but do not dry; remove tough stems. Place in a large pot, cover and cook over high heat until wilted, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a colander to cool, then squeeze out the excess moisture. Chop coarsely and set aside.

Remove the sausage casings and crumble the meat into a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until just done, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt, then the pasta and cook until just barely al dente, about 8 minutes.

While the pasta cooks, wipe the skillet and add the butter. Melt over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until softened but not browned. Add the spinach and nutmeg and cook 3 to 4 minutes. Add the stock and cream and bring to a boil.

Drain the pasta well and place in the bowl with the sausage. Pour in the spinach sauce. Add the peppers and toss until completely blended. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.

Butter a 13- by 9-inch glass baking dish and cover the bottom with 1/3 of the pasta mixture. Strew half the fontina cheese on top. Repeat with the remaining pasta and fontina cheese. Combine the Parmigiano and bread crumbs and sprinkle evenly over top. Bake until the top is crusty and the sauce is bubbly, 10 to 15 minutes.

Hints

Note: Canned piquillo peppers can be found at Spanish markets or specialty stores.

Source:
"The Los Angeles Times, 03-19-2003"

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