Recipe from Pasta Plus!! http://pasta.e-rcps.com


Pasticcio di penne alla valdostana

Valle d'Aosta
Preparation - Medium
Serves 4 - 5

  • 1 lb mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled, whole
  • 4 T butter
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 10 oz penne (about 2 1/2 cups dry pasta) - you can also use mostaccioi, ziti, etc.
  • 3 oz Bel Paese cheese, thinly sliced or cubed - or any creamy, mild cheese (Havarti, Fontina)
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream or half and half
OO Sauté pan, oven-proof baking dish.

SAUTÉ the mushrooms with the whole garlic clove in 2 tablespoons of the butter over a high heat.

ADD salt and pepper, lower the heat and cook for 3 minutes.

DISCARD the garlic.

COOK the pasta as usual.

DRAIN and dress with the remaining butter.

BUTTER an ovenproof dish and cover the bottom with a layer of penne.

DISTRIBUTE about a quarter of the mushrooms and the sliced cheese evenly over the pasta and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of Parmesan.

ADD another layer of pasta and cover with mushrooms and cheese as before.

REPEAT until you have used all the ingredients, finishing with a layer of sliced cheeses.

POUR over the cream, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake, covered with foil, in a preheated oven at 400 deg. F. for 10 minutes.

BAKE uncovered for a further 10 minutes, or until a light crust has formed on the top.

REMOVE from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Adapted from: